The Kid Dog Connection

Dogs are great companions for adults, but they are especially good for children. Owning a family pooch brings many benefits, and gives your kids a fantastic start in life.

These furry delights benefit children in a range of different, often surprising, ways including the below.

A Strong Immune System

For example, did you know that babies that are brought up in homes with dogs are less likely to suffer from a range of illnesses? The Finns first made the connection between dog ownership and baby health.

In 2012, Finnish researchers looked at the health of 397 babies. They found that babies in homes with dogs or cats had fewer colds and ear infections than those living in pet free households. They also discovered that dogs offered a better level of protection than cats did.

In addition, an extensive Swedish study showed that children who grew up on farms around animals had a 50% lower chance of developing asthma. A later study that was published, in 2015, in JAMA Pediatrics, showed that children who owned a dog had a 13% lower risk of developing asthma than those that did not have one in the home.

You can read more about the health benefits that owning a dog brings for young children, by clicking this link.

Better Learning

Another surprising benefit of giving your kids access to a family pooch is that it can help them to learn to read faster. Because of this, in America, and some other parts of the world, dogs are being introduced to classrooms.

Researchers at the University of California, and several other institutions, have found that children will happily read to a dog. Doing so allows them to practice their reading skills on a regular basis. The dogs seem to enjoy the attention and children do not seem to feel any stress when reading to the family pet. This gives them confidence and turns reading aloud into something that they enjoy rather than dread.

Improved Socialisation Skills

Studies also show that children with dogs socialise better, and become active members of their community faster than those without a dog in their lives. Researchers from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University discovered this.

They looked at the personalities and characteristics of 500 18 to 26 year olds. Some owned dogs, whilst others had never owned a family pet.

The researchers found that those with dogs were more confident and empathetic than those without. They were also more likely to be deeply involved with their community. Dog owning children had a better sense of well being, and in later life were more likely to take on leadership roles.

As you can see, owning a dog is very beneficial for children. So next time you see a puppies for sale Lancashire or dogs for sale Hertfordshire sign, why not take action and pop in. Pet ownership is a big undertaking, but, as you can see, owning a dog is a great experience for your children, so it is well worth doing.

You just need to be sure to buy from a good breeder that offers plenty of support and advice. Provided you do so, becoming a dog owner will be a positive experience for both you and your children.

Now we have our pooch in our lives, our family is complete!

Jada xx