A large number of us decided last year to welcome new puppies into our homes – the Kennel Club numbers show dog ownership has increased nearly 8 percent – and demand for four-legged friends remains high after the lockdown.
There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dogs as well as numerous crossbreeds to choose from.
Our lifestyles have a huge impact on which type of dog is best for us – if space is tight you may want to look at small dogs, while older pet owners should put certain breeds at the top of their wish lists.
But if you are looking for a dog that will benefit your sanity, you should consider one of the breeds that have been shown to be good animals for emotional support.
These are gentle, relaxed, and sociable pets that provide therapeutic benefits to their owners, including anxiety relief and making them more comfortable in certain social settings.
They are also believed to sense when you are not at your best and shower you with extra affection to make you feel better.
Here are the 10 most empathic dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club.
The Labrador Retriever is arguably the most empathic breed of dog with an innate ability to know how their owners are feeling. They are gentle, kind, and eager to please. Anyone who’s ever owned a lab knows that they can make any situation seem a little better. Your Golden Retriever cousins are wonderful therapy dogs too.
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For a smaller animal for emotional support, the Yorkshire Terrier is hard to beat. Yorkies are very loving and easy to travel, which makes them great mobile anxiety relievers.
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The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is known as the “Comforter Spaniel” because of the breed’s habit of curling up in their owner’s lap for hours.
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The Chihuahua is another small dog that can provide support in most social situations. It doesn’t need much exercise and is therefore perfect for people who are less mobile.
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