Having a furry friend can stop kids going to the dogs
HAVING a family pooch can help prevent children being dogged by a range of developmental woes, a study claims.
Researchers found having a hound around the house can boost social skills and emotional wellbeing in youngsters.
Kids who play with a dog or take it out once a week have better social lives and are less prone to anti-social behaviour.
Hayley Christian, an associate professor at University of Western Australia, said: “The mere presence of a family dog is associated with many positive behaviours and emotions.”
The study reviewed data on the physical and emotional wellbeing of more than 1,600 two to five-year-olds over three years.
Those from dog-owning households were 20 per cent less likely to have emotional problems and 30 per cent less likely to engage in anti-social behaviour. They were also more considerate and 40 per cent less likely to have problems when making friends.
Prof Christian added: “Dog ownership may benefit development and wellbeing. This could be attributed to the attachment between children and their dogs. Stronger attachments between children and pets may be reflected in the time spent playing and walking together and this may promote social and emotional development.”
Playing with the family dog two or three times a week also made kids 75 per cent more likely to engage in considerate behaviour such as sharing.
And toddlers who joined their dogs on walks at least once a week were 35 per cent less likely to have poor social and emotional development.
The researchers also took into account factors including the child’s age, gender, sleep habits, screen time and their parents’ level of education.
But they were not able to determine exactly why owning a dog improved wellbeing, as the study was based on observation.
Demand for pups and other pets is said to have risen under the lockdown. But the decision to get a dog is not to be taken lightly as they can cost between £4,500 to £13,000 over their life.
Last year, nearly 50,000 dogs were abandoned by their owners.