Center for Engaged Learning Open House

Center for Engaged Learning Open House

Wednesday, Dec. 12 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Hagen 103

• 10 a.m. – noon: 4 Luv of Dog Rescue documentary on Fargo rescue dog Willie
• 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.:  Enjoy some comfort food, hot chocolate and candy
• Materials and resources related to anxiety and stress reduction will be available all day

The MSUM Center for Engaged Learning is home to four offices that create opportunities for experiential learning and engagement between students, faculty and our community: Community Engagement, Undergraduate Research, Honors Program, and Academic Service Learning. Come find out more about us!

Top 10 examples of how dogs can benefit our health:

1. Exercise! This is a no-brainer, get out and get walking with your best friend. Regular walking is a wonderful way to control weight and spend quality time outside.
2. Blood pressure! Studies have demonstrated that being with and petting dogs lowers blood pressure.
3. Cancer detection! Dogs in research studies have “sniffed out” breast and lung cancer by smelling individuals breath, and have “sniffed out” colon cancer more effectively than clinical tests.
4. Epilepsy monitors! Epileptic individuals with service dogs are alerted to upcoming seizures by their dogs.
5. Blood sugar monitors! Trained service dogs especially and even up to 1/3 of all dogs can detect low blood sugar in diabetics. Low blood sugar can be life threatening and these dogs are able to detect changes before the individual feels the low blood sugar symptoms.
6. Stress relief! Being with dogs has been shown to lower cortisol, one of the hormones produced by stress.
7. Immune system boosters! Not only do dogs help lower cortisol (long term cortisol lowers your immune system) but help keep our immune systems exposed and alert to a variety of potential allergens and pathogens.
8. Match making! Getting out with your dogs helps provide opportunities for meeting new people—maybe the love of your life?
9. Mental health! Dogs are isolation smashers! Having a dog(s) helps keep people out and about and this prevents isolation that helps prevent depression and other possible mental illnesses. Dogs are also effective at helping individuals with attention deficit disorders focus and remain calm.
10. Love bonding! Working with dogs and looking in their eyes (for 20 min) promotes the release of oxytocin, a hormone that promotes bonding and “love” feelings. This is the same hormone that is released when mothers breast-feed their new babies.