Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Are Dogs Good for Kids? 7 Vet-Approved Reasons for a Canine Companion

mother and two kids sitting and playing together with Shiba inu dog in public park

Nearly everyone who grew up with a dog will tell you how amazing it was and how they could never imagine their childhood without their family pet. Children love their dogs and for good reasons. Animals of all shapes and sizes teach lessons, provide companionship, and offer unparalleled joy. However, it’s understandable if you’re on the fence about bringing a dog into your home. It’s a huge decision and one that should not be taken lightly. Read on to find seven science-backed reasons your child needs to grow up with a dog.

divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

The 7 Reasons That Dogs Are Good for Kids

1. Your Children May Not Develop Allergies

A study from 2002 found that animal exposure during the first year of a child’s life can reduce subsequent allergic sensitization.1 The key appears to be early exposure, so the sooner you can introduce a dog to your newborn, the better.

happy child playing with dog in a classroom
Image Credit: gpointstudio, Shutterstock

2. Your Children Develop Better Relationships

According to a 2016 study, children who are close to their pet dogs are also more securely attached to their parents.2 Not only that, but they’re also more likely to forge stronger bonds with their best friends. The study found that if children had one type of strong relationship, it’s more likely that other relationships in their lives would be strong as well.

Interestingly enough, researchers found that children who had more physical contact with their dogs were more likely to have better relationships with their moms, dads and friends.


3. Your Children May Reap Mental Health Benefits

A 2015 study found that kids who grew up with a family dog had lower rates of childhood anxiety.3

Another study from the same year found that dogs (and horses) can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety in adults that have experienced childhood trauma.4 Researchers found that they can also reduce the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is partly why these animals are often used in therapy interventions.

Little boy kisses the dog in nose on the window
Image Credit: Yuliya Evstratenko, Shutterstock

4. Your Children May Develop Better Life Skills

Dogs are living, breathing creatures with needs just like humans. Your children can learn responsibility and dependability when involved in some aspects of their care. Of course, your five-year-old begging for a dog won’t be able to take on all the pet care responsibilities, but they certainly can help with age-appropriate tasks.

Having a pet can be a great source of empowerment for young children who generally move through the world feeling disempowered and at the will of their parents and teachers. Having a dog and needing to provide for them in some way provides a sense of responsibility that gives empowerment and develops self-esteem.

When kids learn how to care for and nurture a dependent creature at a young age, it instills in them a sense of empathy that will guide them through the rest of their lives. Caring for pets can also improve emotional intelligence and allow your child to become a more compassionate individual.

Other life skills your children may garner from pet ownership include:
  • Loyalty. Dogs are extremely loyal to their family members and are a great example of how we should treat others.
  • Patience. Training and bonding with your new pet can take some time, but the results are more than worth the effort and time.
  • Respect. Children will learn how to respect their pet’s boundaries and read their body language.
  • Bereavement. When your family pet passes away, your children will learn about death and grieving.

5. Your Children May Have Better Self-Esteem

In 2017, researchers found evidence that suggests children with pets have better self-esteem than their pet-less counterparts.5 An animal’s greatest influence appears to be on youths as they approach adolescence. Children in this age range may also have a higher need for the emotional support provided by their companion animals.

children with their pet dog kneeling by the window
Image Credit: FamVeld, Shutterstock

6. Your Children May Be More Active

A 2010 study found that children with family dogs are more physically active than their peers without pets.6 Researchers found that those with dogs average 11 minutes more exercise daily. While this may not seem like a lot, it adds up to 5.5 hours of physical activity monthly in a society that’s getting progressively more and more sedentary. Every little bit makes a difference.

More recently, Australian researchers found that boys and girls with dogs were more physically active after adopting a dog.7 However, the impact of exercise was far more pronounced in young girls. The study shows that light-intensity physical activity was increased by 52 minutes daily when a dog was added to their family unit. Conversely, this three-year-long study found that girls whose pets died during the study had a huge drop in their daily activity by 62 minutes!


7. Your Children May Be Able to Deal With Stress Better

Children with dogs may be better equipped to deal with emotions when their pets are around.

In 2018, researchers took 99 children and asked them to deliver a five-minute speech that would be watched live by the experimenters.8 To up the stress ante, the children were told that the speech would be videotaped and evaluated later.

Half of the children were allowed to have their dogs in the room with them, while the other half were not. Those who had their dogs nearby were happier throughout the process. When allowed to have physical contact with their pet, the children experienced even less stress.

This suggests that when kids are around pets and are allowed to touch and interact with them, they may feel calmer inside.

Little girl hugging retriever in the field
Image Credit: In Green, Shutterstock

divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

Dog Ownership Isn’t for Everyone

As many benefits as there may be for dog owners and their families, adopting a dog isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. Before bringing any pet into your home, here are some factors you should consider.

Your Budget

Dogs are living, breathing animals that rely on you to provide them with the necessities of life. If your budget does not include pet food, veterinary care, and emergencies, you may want to rethink your adoption plan.

man planning schedules with his pet dog
Image Credit: olgaarmawir, Shutterstock

Your Children’s Age

You may want to wait until your children are older before bringing a dog into the home, especially if you’re considering larger breeds. For example, St. Bernards make fantastic family pets, but they can grow to weigh 180 pounds and can inadvertently cause injuries to your children due to their size. However, small breeds may be at risk around young children as they can be very fragile and prone to injuries until your kids learn boundaries and how to respect animals.

Your Lifestyle

Do you work a 9-5, only to come home and run your children to their activities every day of the week? If so, do you have a plan for what your dog will be doing while you’re busy? Not everyone’s schedule allows time for pets, and that’s okay. But it’s important to consider your lifestyle when weighing the pros and cons of dog ownership, as you shouldn’t adopt any pets if you don’t have any free time to spend with them.

doberman-pincher-dog-sitting-with-his-owner
Image By: gemphoto, Shutterstock

Your Desires

Your children may beg you to adopt a dog and promise that they’ll do the bulk of the work, but you and I both know that won’t happen. They’ll lose interest in doing their dog responsibilities when the novelty of having a pet wears off, and you’ll be stuck taking care of them all on your own. So, before you adopt one, you need to ask yourself if this is something you want or if you want a dog simply because you’re tired of telling your kids “no.”

divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

Conclusion

As you ask yourself, “Is having a dog good for a child?”, think about the science-backed reasons children benefit from having a dog as part of the family unit. However, while dog ownership certainly has its pros, there are also cons to consider. Your children have a lot to gain from being a part of a dog-owning family, but just make sure that this is something you not only want but have the time and budget for, as well.

See Also: 


Featured Image Credit: MENG KONGSAK, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

How Much Does It Cost to Fly a Dog Internationally? 2025 Price Guide

In recent years, traveling with dogs has become more commonplace. In the past, people would board their dogs or leave them with a...

Pekingese Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Facts, Traits & Care

The Pekingese dog breed is a small lion-like breed with a history extending back to ancient times. They are getting more popular each...

Dogster Photo Contest: Dogs of the Week Winners (June 12, 2025)

Every week our team gets the privilege of sorting through our readers photos to choose what dogs will win this weeks contest! See...

5 Incredible Weimaraner Colors & Patterns (With Pictures)

Weimaraners are well-known for their gray coats. While it may seem like they’re only ever gray, these canines actually come in several different...

More related

Great Danoodle (Poodle & Great Dane Mix): Info, Pictures, Care & More

Great Danoodles are a crossbreed of the Poodle and the Great Dane. These may be big dogs, but their charming personalities and calm...

5 Sounds Only Dogs Can Hear: Vet-Analyzed Canine Hearing Range

We’ve heard people talk about ‘sounds that only a dog can hear’, and we all know that our dogs can hear the rustling...

Why Is My Dogs Nose Chapped? 7 Vet-Verified Reasons & Care Tips

If your dog usually has their nose in everything (including your face), you’ll likely notice if something seems different about it. There is...

What Shots Do Dogs Need? A Vets Guide to Vaccinations & Medications

We know that vaccination is an important part of looking after our dogs, but you might be aware that not all dogs need...

Keep reading

Can Dogs Eat Mealworms? Vet-Approved Nutritional Guide

Does the idea of cozying up to a fresh bowl of mealworms appeal to you? Once you get past the ick-factor, you might be surprised to find out that mealworms and other insects are on track to becoming a big...

Can Dogs Eat Mealworms

Can Dogs Eat Pecans? Vet-Reviewed Facts & Safety Guide

If your dog is a dedicated beggar, it can be hard to resist sharing your food with them. Pecans and other nuts are popular snacks for humans, but are they okay for dogs? While pecans aren’t classed as toxic according...

Can Dogs Eat Pecans

Vital Essentials Dog Food Review 2025: An Expert’s Breakdown

More and more dog owners are learning about the benefits of a raw food diet for their furry family members. But feeding a raw diet is even harder than it sounds, especially when you consider what it takes to provide...

Vital Essentials Dog Food

Can Dog Food Go Bad? Vet-Approved Facts & Tips to Preserve It

< Every dog owner has been in a situation where they buy bulk dog food to save money, trips to the grocery store, or time. Maybe you couldn’t power through that one open bag of dog food quite yet, or...

wet and dry dog food

7 Golden Rules for Feeding Your Dog: Expert Tips

As a dog owner, you know the key to your pup’s good health is proper nutrition. Navigating the different types of dog food out there can be confusing. You want to make sure they are getting what they need, but...

Dog Feeding Schedule

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food Review 2025: Our Expert’s Breakdown

The Honest Kitchen was founded in 2002 and is the first pet food company to get the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) seal of approval for producing human-grade dog food. Since its founding, The Honest Kitchen has been a...

DOG_SAPR_The Honest Kitchen Dog Food

Can Dogs Eat Gummy Worms? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Alternatives

We take our dogs with us wherever we go, spoil them on holidays, and consider them part of our family. So, it makes sense if you’d like to share your favorite activities and snacks with them, too. But what if...

Dogster-Can-Dogs-Eat-Gummy Worms

Can Dogs Eat Deer Meat? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Risks

The short answer to this question is yes, dogs can eat deer meat, also known as venison. It’s fairly similar to other types of meat, such as beef. Dogs are facultative carnivores, which means they prefer meat, they do best...

Can Dogs Eat Deer Meat