# Anyone's cat/dog(s) ever help them calm down out of a bad mood? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781 "2005-07-29T18:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781/21 "2005-07-31T21:34:16Z")
I strongly believe in fur therapy. We have four dogs, and they all pitch in to cheer up people in their own way. We have quite a few friends who come over when they’re feeling blah and borrow a dog or two! Now, Pirate pushes this further in my case - he’s learning to carry medication bottles, so I suppose he is learning to “calm me down” when I’m in a bad mood by bringing me the meds necessary to calm me (and my angry back) down 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781/22 "2005-08-01T11:46:51Z")
Absolutely , without a doubt . Every single day . 😃 There have actually been a couple times in my life when I was suicidal , and the ONLY thing that kept me from doing it was my dogs . They were there for me , they needed me . Just recently , when I had to euthanize my old Gordon Setter , my young Gordie , Kharma , would see me crying and come to me , put her front legs around my neck and squeeze , giving me a hug , and she would lick my tears away . Dogs are the BEST ! Anna ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781/23 "2005-08-01T12:53:43Z")
My dog is my therapist. She puts up with my shit and I pick up hers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781/24 "2005-08-01T14:17:34Z")
When my Old English Sheepdog, Wesley, wanted me to play with his toy, he’d plop it in my lap and continually nudge it with his nose. When he senses I’m in a rotten mood, he’ll bring his toy and drop it in my lap. It’s like he’s saying “This toy makes ME feel better! YOU try it.” ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781/25 "2005-08-01T14:25:50Z")
My cat and dog always know when I need them. I’ve suffered from panic attacks and mild agoraphobia for years and years, and sometimes when I’ve had too much, they seem to know that I need to pet them. I’ll get panicky and upset, and my dog Zoe will come sit with me. She’ll get as close to me as possible, and keep trying to scoot closer. She’s rather fretful. My cat will come and sit next to me and make little mewing sounds until I pet him. When I feel calmer, he’ll go away. Animals are very intuitive, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781/26 "2005-08-01T18:22:25Z")
My dog Sasha could hear from the other side of the house if I started crying. She would come from wherever she was and start licking my face. It’s damn hard to cry when you have a sweet dog washing away your tears. I miss that dog more than anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyones-cat-dog-s-ever-help-them-calm-down-out-of-a-bad-mood/314781.md?page=1)