Dogs seem to make us healthier than we would be without them. Social psychologist Bruce Headey conducted a survey of Australian dog-owners and found that they take fewer trips to the doctor and sleep better than non-dog-owners. It’s not that dog-owners are naturally healthier; bringing a dog into your life somehow brings these benefits along. James Serpell, a professor of animal ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, conducted a study in the U.K. that followed pet owners through the 10 months after they adopted their pet. Their scores on measures of general health also improved, and dog-owners increased their physical activity considerably.

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Persons: Bruce Headey, James Serpell Organizations: University of Pennsylvania