Dogs may bring us more joy than we realize. A recent study found that more than half of American dog owners sometimes skip socializing with friends to hang out with their furry companions.The survey asked 2,000 dog owners how the animals affected their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Eighty-two percent said their mental and emotional health had improved since owning a dog, and 68 percent said having a dog improved their physical health.Spending time with dogs can even help fight stress and tension, according to a 2017 survey from BarkBox.