Petting Dogs as a Legitimate Coping Mechanism

Let’s be honest, the world feels like a group project where no one’s doing their part and somehow you’re still the one failing. Rent is laughably high, the Wi-Fi is unstable during the only important meeting you had all week, and reels insists on serving you your ex’s engagement announcement like it’s a sponsored ad. In this chaos, everyone is desperate for a coping mechanism. Some people meditate. Some people journal. Some people take up knitting or start drinking mysterious green smoothies. And then there’s us…the enlightened few, who indulge in the therapeutic exercise of petting dogs

Yes, I said it, petting dogs is not just a cute, wholesome activity. It’s a legitimate, scientifically-backed mental health strategy. In fact, it might be the ultimate one. Sure, mindfulness meditation is great in theory, but have you ever scratched a golden retriever behind the ears and watched their entire soul leave their body in bliss? Studies have shown that interacting with dogs boosts oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone”, and lowers cortisol, the “stress hormone.” Which basically means that rubbing a beagle’s belly is like having a therapy session (except your therapist thinks you’re the best person who has ever existed and greets you like you’ve just come back from war, even though you only left the room five minutes ago)

There’s a certain magic to the dog-petting experience. One moment, you’re trudging down the street, weighed down by life’s relentless nonsense, and then you see it, the wag. You lock eyes with a fluffy stranger, you get permission from the human attached to the leash (because consent is important), and suddenly you’re crouched on the sidewalk speaking in a tone of voice usually reserved for human infants. For a few precious minutes, the unpaid bills, unanswered emails, and questionable text messages disappear. You’re not a burnt-out adult anymore. You’re just a person connecting with another living being, exchanging joy in the purest form possible.

And the best part? This is therapy you don’t have to book weeks in advance or pay ₹1500 an hour for. It’s free. Dogs don’t reschedule last minute, they don’t make you unpack your childhood trauma when you’re just here to vibe, and they will never tell you to “just think positive.” They simply exist in your presence, radiating unconditional love, and in that moment, it’s enough.

Of course, not all dog-petting encounters are created equal. There’s an art to it. You have to approach with respect, match the energy of the dog, and commit to the scritches. Some pups want enthusiastic pats; others want a calm hand and slow strokes. The real pros know the sweet spots: behind the ears, under the chin, or at the base of the tail if the dog is comfortable. It’s a mutual exchange, they get the affection they crave, and you get to feel like the main character in a feel-good indie film.

The thing about dogs is that they pull you out of your head and back into the present. You can’t obsess over your inbox or rehearse an imaginary argument when you’re staring into a pair of big, trusting eyes and feeling a warm, slightly drooly muzzle in your palm. It’s grounding in the most literal sense. The world could be on fire (and let’s face it, it kind of is), but for those moments, your nervous system believes you are safe.

So the next time you feel the spiral starting, whether it’s because you’ve doomscrolled yourself into an existential crisis or because you accidentally liked a photo from 2019 while Instagram-stalking – find a dog. Pet the dog. Let the dog heal you. Because sometimes, recovery doesn’t look like meditation retreats or expensive wellness products. Sometimes, it looks like paw prints on your jeans and fur stuck to your hoodie. And that’s enough.