Scientific Research: Dogs are Good for Children

July 4, 2019

Well, I knew that long before scientists studied such things, but I'm glad they've finally caught up.  Having a pet dog is good for children!  And scientific research has now verified what all dog owners already intuitively knew.

According to this report, Benefits of Pets, by the Royal Children's Hospital of Melbourne, Australia, having a pet provides the following benefits to children:

Child development

Having a pet can help develop the following qualities in children:

• Nurturing skills

• Responsibility

• Empathy

• A caring attitude

• Communication

  
  

Studies have shown that children with pets:

• Have higher self esteem

• Have improved social skills

• Are more likely to be physically active, and less likely to be overweight or obese

Family harmony

Pet ownership also has a beneficial effect on family harmony. Research shows that families with a pet:

• Spend a lot more time interacting

• Have a basis for fun activities and friendly conversation including the important topics of life

  
  

Health

The relaxation and relief from stress provided by animal companionship also yields health benefits.  In comparison with their pet-less counterparts, pet owners:

• Have a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease

• Have fewer minor illnesses and complaints

• Visit the doctor less often

  
  

And this is why 80% of Australians have pets!

According to this report by the American Kennel Club, The Many Ways Kids Benefit from Having a Dog, children who have a pet dog:

• Have higher self-esteem

• Are more compassionate

• Feel more supported

• Have better cognitive skills

• Have less stress

• Are happier

• And are healthier

  
  

And that is why every boy and girl should have a dog!

According to this article in Momtastic, 9 Surprising Ways Having a Dog Benefits Your Kids, pet dogs provide the following benefits to children:

• Dogs are natural stress relievers for children

• Dogs teach children responsibility

• Dogs never judge or criticize - they just pour out unconditional affection

• Dogs encourage children to get outside and play in the outdoors (instead of playing video games or "chatting" online)

• Dogs help children develop social skills

• Dogs teach boys nurturing skills (which most boys don't come by naturally)

• Dogs provide stabiliy for children

• Dogs teach children to have empathy

• Dogs help children feel safe - dogs can smell and hear things that humans can't, and when they go on alert, it's a good feeling to have a "guard dog"

  
  

And finally, this scientific research study, New Survey Reveals Executive Success May be Influenced by a Surprising Source: The Family Pet, by Kelton Research for Banfeld Pet Hospital, provides these WOW!-factor findings:

• 93% of C-Suite executives in the U.S. grew up with a pet!

• 78% of C-Suite executives in the U.S. attribute their career success, in part, to owning a pet as a child!

• 83% of C-Suite executives in the U.S. grew up with a dog, in particular!

• 92% of C-Suite executives in the U.S. feel that having a pet as a child taught them to develop discipline!

• 79% of C-Suite executives in the U.S. feel that having a pet as a child helped them learn organizational skills!

• 77% of C-Suite executives said that currently walking a dog helps them brainstorm business ideas and boosts their creativity at work!

  
  

WOW!

And we at South Bay Labs have the following additional information for you: buying a puppy from us costs less than a Harvard degree!

So, what are you waiting on?  If you live in Silicon Valley or the San Francisco Bay area, get up off your duff, and get over here to South Bay Labs and check out our beautiful, wonderful puppies!  (And if you don't live nearby, we can arrange shipping to you.  Just let us know!  We are breeding the most wonderful dogs in the world.)