Dogs and children can be the best of friends when raised together and can offer a number of benefits to each other, including everything from increased exercise to happier mindsets. Read on to find out more about the advantages of dogs and children growing up together.
Most children love dogs. They're cute, cuddly, and oh-so-friendly. But did you know that growing up with a dog can actually benefit a child's physical and psychological development? Here are the top 10 benefits of dogs being in children's lives.
1. Provide comfort and stress relief
Although childhood isn't always easy, growing up with a dog provides constant companionship through the ups and downs. Dogs can be a great source of comfort for kids - even when they're coming to grips with difficult life lessons. Whenever kids feel sad, angry, or afraid, they can always turn to their pet. Stroking and petting dogs has also been shown to relieve stress and help people relax.
2. Get kids active and moving daily
Caring for a dog also encourages a more active lifestyle. Children with dogs exercise eleven minutes a day more than their non-dog owning peers. That might not sound like a lot, but over a week or month, it really adds up. All dogs require daily walks and plenty of play time. Those adorable puppy eyes they give you are sure to motivate you - even when you're not feeling up to it. Here are a few fun dog exercise ideas that will keep all the family moving.
3. Build responsibility and empathy
Having a pet is a great way to teach responsibility to kids. Making sure that the family dog has food and water gives children a first glimpse of accountability and obligation. Children also learn empathy and compassion by caring for their pet, while developing a higher level of self-esteem by taking care of their pet-owning responsibilities.
4. Boost immune system and reduce allergies
Studies have found that children raised in close contact with a pet get sick less often in their first year of life, meaning fewer visits to the doctor's office. Exposure to dog dander and the microbes that pets carry into the home from the outdoors is suggested to improve babies' developing immune systems. Research has also found that children who grow up with dogs experience a reduced risk of allergies.
5. Teach loyalty and unconditional love
Kids are the centre of attention in any family, and they quickly learn that the world revolves around them. This is why it's important to expose them to concepts such as unconditional love or loyalty. What better teacher than our canine companions?
6. Accelerate speech and language skills
Dogs provide countless opportunities for kids to practise talking. Whether it's calling the dog by their name, asking them to perform simple training exercises such as sit or stay, or just babbling, kids will be eager to get chatting with their new friend.
Often children can be encouraged to read by reading to their dog who will be totally non-judgemental and enjoy the interaction.
Dogs can also help children with speech difficulties by keeping them relaxed and entertained. They're often employed as the non-judgmental talking partner, making speech therapy less challenging and more fun for the little ones.
7. Keep children safe and protected
We've all heard stories of hero dogs saving babies from intruders, impending disasters or dangerous animals. Dogs are our trusted guardians. And when it comes to children, they can often take the human "puppies" under their wing and help to keep them safe.
8. Cut screen time for outdoor play
Whether it's daily walks around the neighbourhood or trips to the park, having a canine companion offers plenty of good reasons to take the whole family out of the house and away from the screens.
9. Strengthen sibling bonds
Parents have a golden opportunity to encourage teamwork and cooperation between siblings by adding a pet to the family. Dog walking and dog feeding can become shared responsibilities, and when play time comes around, joining in on the fun of having a dog running around in the garden will help bring them closer together.
10. Spark daily joy and happiness
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of dogs in early childhood is simply that they make children happy! Interaction with animals has been proven to raise levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are the chemical building blocks of positive feelings.
All science aside, playing and interacting with dogs is just plain fun - and it's bound to brighten any child's day. Growing up with a dog can enrich the lives of children in so many ways. Having a dog join your family may be one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids.
Want to find out more about your dog's behaviour? Check out our article on teaching children to care for dogs and cats, next.
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