WELLNESS PARTNERS FOR GEN Z

Dogs are becoming the new go-to friends for millennials, says Adnaan Khan, founder CEO of K9 School.

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Life today is significantly different for many in the younger demography as compared to what their parents and grandparents experienced. Technology is everywhere, connecting our work, social lives and even the simplest daily activities, all through the screens. The pandemic has only catalyzed this process. While this shift to a digitized sedentary lifestyle is undoubtedly convenient, it has also inadvertently led to a silent pandemic of mental health issues, including profound loneliness, social isolation and chronic feelings of discomfort and anxiety.

However, a furry, four-legged remedy is emerging: dogs. More and more Millennials and Gen Zers are not just seeing dogs as pets; they are becoming the most important partner in the wellness journey. Dogs are a critical connection to reality—pulling people away from the infinitely scrolling smartphone screen, leading them to physical activity, face-to-face social engagement and nonstop love. This is not a passing fad; this is a redesign for living, coping and surviving — a direct, although somewhat ambiguous, reaction to the particular stresses of modern living.

The Digital Disconnect and Dopamine Burnout

To understand the profound importance of dogs, one must first confront the challenges of a screen-addicted world. The modern era is a constant barrage of information and stimulation, much of it funneled through the devices in our hands. Social media, in particular, has fundamentally rewired the human brain. Every “like”, comment and share give us a quick rush of dopamine, which is a chemical in our brain that makes us feel good and rewarded. But the problem is that everyone has become too hooked on this quick satisfaction, leading to a state of dopamine burnout.