Dog lovers are well aware that dogs improve our lives, but there might be some benefits that you don't realize dogs have on people! This is my puppy Lexi. My boyfriend and I rescued her from the Asheville Humane Society, the picture below was taken the day we adopted her. She is a 2-year-old shollie and my dog child. A shollie is a mix of a german shepherd and border collie. She is one of the happiest, derpiest dogs I have ever met. She EVEN has her own Instagram: @Lexi_the_shollie

Here are 7 awesome benefits of owning a pooch:

1. They keep you active

She encourages me to stay as active as possible. In all of my free time, I find myself spending time with Lexi. Having a dog keeps me active in so many ways. Everything from feeding, bathing, playing, etc. keep me on my feet all day long! I have found myself more active ever since we adopted Lexi!

2. Tons of social time

Lexi is my wing-woman. Dogs make it easier to start conversations. They make you approachable and less shy. Having her with me in public makes it easier to be social. She is a great conversation starter and the best times I have with Lexi are when I take her to the dog park. There I get to talk to other dog lovers and she gets to play with other dogs!

3. Boost your mood

Taking care of a pet releases serotonin and dopamine. They help ease mental health by boosting your mood, health, and making you less lonely. Research has shown that "the warm feeling we get from our dogs and other pets isn't just a learned behavior ... but [it's] something that's hard-wired into humans so that the presence of animals can help us stay well and even recover from illnesses." I have definitely seen an increase in mental health since she has came into my life!

4. Better quality of life

Dogs require a lot of walking, but walking is so great that most dog owners have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, fewer heart attacks, reduced risk of diabetes and other life threatening issues. Dogs also help you from getting arthritis through the lighter activities like throwing a ball or frisbee.

5. My best friend and child

If Lexi could talk, I would be in so much trouble! I tell her everything from what I ate that day to all my deepest secrets! I take so much pride in my dog. Whenever I'm out in public with her, it just warms my heart to hear compliments on how soft she is, how well behaved and how sweet she is. Once I start talking about her, I seem to not stop because she is like my own child and I have put so much time into training. One thing to keep in mind, training never stops.

6. Relieves stress

UNC Asheville brings therapy dogs to campus all of the time because spending time petting calm dogs reduces stress and anxiety. Studies show that "a few minutes of stroking our pet dog prompts a release of a number of 'feel good' hormones in humans, including serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin." If you have time and there is a therapy dog session, go to it. It will make you feel better, physically and mentally!

7. Always greets me

The hardest part of my day is leaving Lexi behind. Anytime I leave my house I simply tell Lexi to be good and that I'll be back. It might not mean anything to her (or it might) but it means the world for me to tell her, "I will be home later." Even though leaving her is so difficult, coming home is the best feeling. We are reunited. To a dog, you coming home means their day starts. She is almost always at the door sitting, tail wagging, smiling, waiting for me to open it.

I cannot wait for you to get to meet Lexi. She is at UNC Asheville quite often and loves to be pet by everyone!