There are few things as heart-warming as seeing a kid playing with their favourite furball. But there's far more to the interaction than just cute companionship – research shows that pet dogs have a marvellous way of boosting children's physical and emotional health. So, whether you've already got a dog or you're considering getting one, here are the extraordinary ways they enhance kids' lives.
From taking part in the daily dog walk to feeding the dog an appropriate amount of high-quality pet food, children absorb valuable caring principles when taking responsibility for their pet. In fact, Australian research found that children aged between two and five from dog-owning households tended to display increased "pro-social" behaviours such as sharing and cooperating and tended to get along better with their peers. "Children learn the importance of caring for something other than themselves," says registered psychologist Donna Cameron from The Couch Therapy .
"They can learn to identify the animal's feelings by noticing subtle changes, such as whether the animal's tail is wagging or positioned down. Children learn how to comfort their animal when it is feeling stressed or distressed and develop awareness that when their pet is tired, it needs some rest and not play time." As much as we parents try our best to offer our kids unconditional love, there will inevitably be times when they frustrate or disappoint us.
Not so from the pooch perspective. "Dogs over unconditional love, friendship and companionship – a good dog will wag their tail and come up for a pat, no matter how the child has performed at school or behaved at home," Cameron says. "They'll meet the child with enthusiasm and warmth, which is valuable for a child's self-esteem.
" At the same time, patting our pooch after a hard day helps hormonally – humans get a measurable increase in the feelgood hormone oxytocin and a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol. "Pets can bring much-needed consistency in children's lives when the world around them is changing and always on the move," Cameron says. "Pets can offer stability for children during times of change, such as moving houses, parent separation or the loss of a family member, such as a grandparent.
" Teaching a dog some basic commands – or complicated tricks – takes a lot of patience, and kids who take on the training will arguably learn as many new skills as the dog itself. "Taking on the educator role in dog training and understanding that dogs learn by association [is a valuable life lesson]," says vet Dr Lee Danks, VitaPet's Technical Services Vet. "We call it 'operant conditioning' – where if you do this then that will happen – we reinforce a simple pattern, which reinforces good behaviour and discourages undesirable ones like barking or begging.
I think that kind of behavioural modulation – and learning about consequences – is healthy for both dog and child." From regular walks to outdoor active play to portion-controlling our treats, we can use our pets as examples when talking to our kids about what healthy lifestyles look like. "Feeding your dog responsibly is another way in which you can love your dog," Dr Danks says.
"The sad truth is, very few pet parents of any age pay attention to feeding guidelines and in the Western world up to 50 per cent of dogs are carrying excess weight. We need to be careful not to over-feed and use treats appropriately, so we are less likely to over-feed." The beauty of kids feeding their pet is that it doesn't have to involve chopping ingredients or labouring in the kitchen – feeding our dogs a healthy and balanced diet has never been easier, with brands like VitaPet producing nutritionally balanced kibble so that kids and their dogs can get back to playing together.
"There's no better lesson in growing up than how to look after a pet, and developing that sense of self beyond you," Dr Danks says. "Because ultimately, life's about caring for each other, isn't it?" We know that outdoor play is crucial for children's wellbeing, setting the scene for imaginative (messy!) play and building resilience, boosting fitness and reducing kids' risk of short-sightedness – and dogs can be a fantastic lure. "Owning an animal can reduce the amount of time children spend on screens," Cameron adds.
"Setting times for the child to play with the animal in the morning and afternoon helps focus the child's attention on physical play and, in most cases, helps them forget about their desire to be on a screen for that period of time." With real, Australian ingredients and vet-approved formulas, VitaPet makes it easy to feed your dog a balanced, delicious and nutritious meal. Shop VitaPet online or in your local supermarket today.
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