It is a well known fact that a person who has been raised with a dog as part of the family makes a better person than someone who has not. The evidence is apocryphal but as you probably own a dog you will agree with me. After all, how can we dog owners not be better than non-dog owners?

In an attempt to support my theory here is a list of the top ten reasons why I believe that children raised in a home with a dog make much better grown-ups

1. Dogs are cool, and dogs get you friends. There is nothing like having a cool dog to help a child make friends other than owning the latest games console or having the most attractive mother out of your group of friends. Ok, ok, it is not because they are cool but research has shown that children with dogs have higher levels of self esteem than those children without dogs. This confidence can help them integrate better within their peer groups.

2. Dogs help your non verbal skills. As dogs do not speak children learn the animal’s needs by recognising characteristics and mannerisms. This empathy between the child and dog can be transferred to family and friends.

3. Dogs cure allergies… sort of. Dogs can help prevent children from obtaining allergies by playing an important role in building the child’s immune system. Health workers believe that the increase in allergies over the years is due to the cleaning products our children are being introduced too which are killing the bacteria’s and bugs that we need at an early age to help us fight the diseases and allergies off later on in life.

4. Dogs earn you cash. Owning a dog as a child teaches them how to be responsible for not only themselves but for others. The dependence on the child by the dog helps the child understand the needs of others and the consequences of their actions. A responsible attitude will make the child more employable from paper delivering, babysitting and later on in their chosen careers.

5. Dogs are better than diets. Obesity is on the increase but by owning a dog you can ensure your child has an active and healthy lifestyle. Regular dog walks not only keep the animal fit and healthy but also help those walking the dog to increase their heart rate and lose that all important weight. It is also fun and does not feel like exercise.

6. Dogs save marriages. One of the most devastating situations in a child’s life can be if their parents separate. Reports show that parents communicate better, respond to stress better and have closer relationships than those without dogs. Dogs are also positive influences to families helping them spend more time together.

7. Dogs die. Often the first experience of death a child has is that of a pet. A dog owning child will come across death quite early on in their life. Encountering the death of a pet dog can help children understand and learn how to grieve helping them deal with the death of family or friends when they are older.

8. Dogs make you brainy. It is thought that dogs aid the cognitive development of very young children with regards to their speech. The dog functioning as a tolerant subject of the young child could lead to an increase in language acquisition. This is good news for parents who can now switch off Teletubbies and let their children ‘e-ohhhh’ to their hearts content to the dog instead.

9. Dogs have good shoulders to cry on. Actually they are a bit sharp and bony but children can cuddle and talk to a dog that, by virtue of them being relatively non vocal, have no other option but to listen to the child’s problems. Scientists have proven that children with dogs handle emotional issues better and cope with life’s upheavals like divorce a lot better than children without a dog.

10. Dogs ROCK!!! Obviously the dog being such a great all round pet will make your child a great all round human being. How can a child who has been raised with a dog, has handled their emotions so well, made loads of friends, have no allergies, have great parents and siblings, and are healthy and intelligent not be a great member of society?

Of course there are going to be many other influences in a child’s life that will affect how they develop, but if parents and the school system work hard at raising the child with as many positive experiences as possible then there is nothing but good that can come from owning the right dog for the family.

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