Why Queen Elizabeth II Loves Corgis And How The Dogs May Be The Secret Of Her Longevity
LIFESTYLE
Why Queen Elizabeth II Loves Corgis And How The Dogs May Be The Secret Of Her Longevity
A recent study shows there’s a connection between owning a dog and living longer. Weirdly as it sounds, scientists claim that dog owners, statistically speaking, live longer. And do you know who the biggest dog lover is? Queen Elizabeth II is! The faithful companions of the British monarch have been by her side even longer than Prince Philip. Let’s take a closer look at this interesting link. Maybe it is not a coincidence after all?
The Queen’s fluffy family
The Queen’s favorite breed is Corgi. The first one was bought by George VI in 1933, and called Dookie. Jane and Susan were bought shortly after as a gift for Elizabeth’s 18th birthday.
Susan has accompanied the Queen for 15 years. She would travel with her owner by plane, train, and yacht to anywhere Elizabeth would go. She was a dynasty founder, as the Queen’s last corgis, Holly and Willow, were Susan’s 14th-generation descendants. Unfortunately, Willow, the last of the dynasty, died in April of 2018, leaving the Queen, alone and in tears.
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Perhaps, the Queen loves her pets so much because she is like a mom to them. Even the feeding time routine shows how much her dogs mean to Elizabeth. Dr. Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist who has worked for the royal family, described the process:
Each dog had an individually designed menu, including an array of homeopathic and herbal remedies. Their food was served by a butler in an eclectic collection of battered silver and porcelain dishes… the Queen got the corgis to sit in a semi-circle around her, and then, fed them one by one, in order of seniority, as the others sat patiently and waited their turn.
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Unfortunately, pragmatic Queen decided not to acquire more corgis, so Holly and Willow were her last ones. Reportedly, she once said that the corgis are her family. Any dog owner probably knows this feeling, and any dog owner would relate to the iconic quote by Antoine de Saint Exupéry:
You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.
Dogs make you live longer?
Back to living longer! Scientists in Sweden conducted a 12-year study and discovered that dog owners typically have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The study doesn’t speculate on the cause of such a connection, only adding that it might be related to motivation for physical activity.
Some scientists assume that the dog’s microbiome may positively influence the owner’s immune system. On the other hand, other scientists believe that people who decide to get a dog are healthier in the first place than those who don’t. Dr. John Bradshaw, however, warns that getting a pet solely for the alleged health benefits might not be a good idea.
Do you agree that looking after your dog makes you healthier? Maybe, it is the secret of Queen’s longevity?
