- It was also found that children from dog-owning families were more responsible.
- Nature Portfolio said that children from dog-owning families also had higher levels of prosocial behaviours compared with children from non-dog-owning families.
If you have been thinking about getting your family a dog, this is your sign to get one.
Children who have dogs or grow up with dogs were found to be better behaved, have better immune systems and have fewer emotional problems.
This is according to Veterinarians.org, which analysed two decades' worth of research for the findings.
"Nearly 400 research documents published between 1980 and 2022 shows evidence that children benefit immensely from dogs," they said.
Children get increased physical activity, a reduction of stress, and the development of empathy from bonding with dogs.
"These children are better behaved. Nature Portfolio found that young children from dog-owning families had lower peer problems and conduct problems, and higher prosocial behaviours than children from non-dog-owning families," they said.
Additionally, they had better immune systems, according to the National Library of Science.
"Exposure to dogs in infancy, and especially around the time of birth, is associated with changes in immune development and reductions in wheezing and atopy," they said.
These children, they added, had fewer emotional problems as pets may protect children from developing social-emotional problems and should be taken into account when assessing child development and school readiness.
"Children without siblings may benefit most in terms of their prosocial behaviour," they said.
It was also found that children from dog-owning families were more responsible.
Nature Portfolio said that children from dog-owning families also had higher levels of prosocial behaviours compared with children from non-dog-owning families.
"These results support the findings of other studies, which have reported better self-esteem, improved empathy towards peers, and higher levels of personal responsibility and autonomy in children with pets compared to those without," they said.
It was further found that children with dogs were less lonely.
Science Direct explored the relationship between loneliness and companion animal bonding among 293 rural adolescents.
The adolescents in high schools completed self-report measures of loneliness, pet ownership, companion animal attachment, and social support.
Those who were pet owners reported significantly lower loneliness scores than non-pet owners.