• Grooming & Spa
  • Training
  • Behavior
  • Dog Breed
    • Australian Shepherd
    • Beagle
    • Bichon Frise
    • Border Collie
    • Bulldog
    • Corgi
    • Dachshund
    • German Shepherd
    • Golden Retriever
    • Goldendoodle
    • Husky
    • Labradoodle
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Maltese
    • Pit Bull
    • Pomeranian
    • Poodle
    • Pug
    • Shih Tzu
    • Yorkie
  • Collars, Leashes & Harnesses
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Home » Behavior » 6 Reasons Why Every Kid Should Have a Dog

6 Reasons Why Every Kid Should Have a Dog

Emma Engel by Emma Engel
January 22, 2020
in Behavior
0
6
SHARES
115
VIEWS
Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on Pinterest

It goes without saying that the dog is man’s best friend- they have been our loyal companions for thousands of years and become members of the family. It’s been said that every child should have a dog and I, being a proud dog owner, agree with this statement. I want to share with you why it’s important for kids to have a pet dog as they grow up, and have put together a list of some of the biggest reasons why every kid should have a dog.

Contents show
1. Kids Who Have Pet Dogs Are More Active
2. Dogs Improve Social Skills
3. Kids with Dogs Have Stronger Immune Systems
4. Dogs Offer Children Companionship
5. Children Who Own Dogs Understand Responsibility
6. Dogs Strengthen Bonds Between Families

1. Kids Who Have Pet Dogs Are More Active

kid more active when have a dog

Children who grow up with dogs in their home tend to spend more time engaging in physical activity. A study out of St George’s University of London found that, on average, children who own a pet dog spend 11 more minutes of their day- 562 minutes within a 7 day period- being physically active than children who don’t own dogs. The dog owners were also found to take 360 more steps per day- 4% more- than those who don’t own dogs. Similar studies have been previously done on adults, resulting in similar findings and proving that dog owners in general spend more time being active.

2. Dogs Improve Social Skills

dog help improve kid's social skill

Dogs can serve as important teachers to children who are developing their social and emotional skills. The benefits that come from children having a dog include reducing the risk of childhood depression, encouraging physical activity, and creating opportunities for meaningful social interaction. Successfully caring for a dog can also boost your child’s self-esteem, help him or her develop empathetic capabilities, reduce stress, and help them learn. In Autistic children, dogs prove to be even more helpful, as 31 Autistic students between the ages of 8 and 14 were tested in social groups either with or without dogs. It was found by Dr. Joanna Becker that the social groups that worked with the dogs showed larger improvements than the other group.

3. Kids with Dogs Have Stronger Immune Systems

dog help kid be stronger

There have been a number of recent studies that show that children who grow up with a dog might have stronger immune systems than children without dogs. These studies start as far back as a 2002 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association that showed that infants who were exposed to dogs during their first year had fewer allergies. Newer studies show that children with dogs tend to have less chance of developing asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems. According to the University of Michigan, dust from homes with dogs contains beneficial microbes that reshape and strengthen children’s immune systems to fight off allergens.

4. Dogs Offer Children Companionship

dog offer children companionship

For many children, childhood is a confusing time that is full of emotions. Kids who have dogs in their household are known to feel less lonely, as dogs can provide a constant sense of companionship and care. When your child feels angry, lonely, or sad, he or she can turn to the family dog who, according to some studies, can relieve stress and provide comfort by having your child sit and pet or hug the dog.

5. Children Who Own Dogs Understand Responsibility

kid brush dog

Owning a dog comes with responsibilities, and your child can benefit from having age appropriate pet responsibilities in relation to the family dog. Young children can benefit from notifying you when the dog needs food or water, or when he or she has left a mess that needs to be cleaned up. For young children, being tasked with pet responsibilities is seen as a privilege. Older children can help you feed, walk, and groom the family dog, as well as train it. Children can also benefit by putting their input into buying pet supplies such as a grooming tool for their dog. By giving your child pet responsibilities, you are teaching him or her to care for another being.

6. Dogs Strengthen Bonds Between Families

Dogs Strengthen Bonds Between Families

Dogs help to bring families closer together. Working together to care for a dog is a family job, and along with it comes taking the dog for walks and grooming it together, both of which allow the family time to bond with each other. Dogs will bond with each member of the family through one on one activities like walks in the park, a game of fetch, or riding in the car together. Once the dog has bonded with each member, the family’s shared love of the dog can increase the bond between the family members.

Did you enjoy this list? If so, tell me what you think in the comments below! If you really loved this list, feel free to share it with your friends and next time your child asks to bring a puppy home, remember that dogs get kids up and moving, reduce the chances of allergies and asthma, improve social skills, provide comfort, and help the whole family bond.

Tweet2Share2Pin1
Emma Engel

Emma Engel

Hello fellow pet parents! I’m Emma, the founder and editor-in-chief at hellocutepup.com. As a pet parent myself, I’ve had the amazing experience of raising three phenomenal dogs that quickly became my entire family. I’ve always believed that dogs are a gift sent to us from above and that every prepared household should have the ability to experience the pure joy and happiness dogs can bring into a home. I’ve created this blog to not only help guide you through your own pet parenting struggles, but to also help you establish a stronger bond with your pet than ever before. Happy reading, and above all, remember to have fun!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

  • Dog Refuses to WalkMy Dog Refuses to Walk : Causes & Solutions
  • Why My Dog Lick My FeetWhat Does It Mean When A Dog Licks Your Feet
  • Why my Dog Wont't Drink Water4 Reasons Why My Dog Won’t Drink Water

Amazon Associates Program

HelloCutePup.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Additionally, HelloCutePup.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

Tag Cloud

Bath Your Dog Dog Brush Dog Clippers Dog Collar Dog Harness Dog Health Dog Nails Dog Shampoo Dog Shedding Dog Training Dog Treat Dog Undercoat Dog Whistle Matted Dog Hair Smelling Dog
No Result
View All Result
  • Grooming & Spa
  • Training
  • Behavior
  • Dog Breed
    • Australian Shepherd
    • Beagle
    • Bichon Frise
    • Border Collie
    • Bulldog
    • Corgi
    • Dachshund
    • German Shepherd
    • Golden Retriever
    • Goldendoodle
    • Husky
    • Labradoodle
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Maltese
    • Pit Bull
    • Pomeranian
    • Poodle
    • Pug
    • Shih Tzu
    • Yorkie
  • Collars, Leashes & Harnesses

COPYRIGHT ©2019 · HELLO CUTE PUP - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED