A dog for your little ones’ development?

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Western Australia, dog ownership promotes the development of social skills in children aged 2 to 5. From 2015 to 2018, the researchers conducted the study among 1,646 families with children of that age, 42% of which owned a dog. Questionnaires were given to parents to provide feedback on their children’s social and emotional development. The results showed that children who grew up with a dog were 23% less likely to develop emotional problems, 30% less likely to exhibit behaviours considered anti-social and 40% less likely to have problems interacting with other children. If you’re looking for one more reason to adopt a dog, this is it! (Katrine Joncas)