Not all parents find it appealing when their children ask if they can have a dog. It is a pet that makes noise, creates mess, and costs money. Before you say no, however, you should consider the possibility one more time.
There are indeed several advantages to having a family dog – for both adults and children. First and foremost, your child gets more outdoor time since the dog needs to be walked. Therefore, it is not just the dog, but also your child who gets fresh air during the daily walks.
Children become more responsible
A dog helps ensure that your child becomes more responsible. Ultimately, a pet is the parents' responsibility. However, this does not change the fact that you as a parent can teach your child that a dog cannot take care of itself unless they look after it.
This leads to the child learning to take responsibility. They learn that they cannot just leave the dog; it needs to be walked and fed. It provides a general understanding of taking care of others, which can not only help in school but also in the future.
A dog is a good playmate
Both games and play are fundamental elements for the development of any young mind. It is through play that the child finds themselves, develops their self-esteem, and learns to utilize their imagination. A dog is an ideal playmate, always willing to engage in a game.
A dog is patient and will seize any opportunity to play with a child. This holds true regardless of whether adults think the play is silly, boring, or inappropriate. Any dog will always be ready when the child calls.
This means they get a new best friend for less good days, when siblings, parents, and friends are not among those they want to spend time with, simply because they want peace and quiet.
Children with pets have better health
An additional benefit is that studies have shown that children who grow up with dogs have far fewer sick days than children who do not. At the same time, they have a reduced tendency to develop both allergies and childhood eczema.
A Danish study has proven that having a dog in the home can counteract childhood eczema. The Danish study was conducted by COPSAC, which has also demonstrated that the risk of developing eczema in children significantly decreases with the more dogs present in the home.
Remember to have insurance in order
A dog insurance is a mandatory insurance in Denmark. Therefore, it is essential to have this in order if you have taken pity and decided that your child should be allowed to have a dog. However, investigate the market before choosing insurance.
