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It’s become a tradition in many places to get a young child a dog for their birthday or at some point. It’s so that they have an ally, a companion, a friend to grow up with, and usually, this becomes a very important thing for the kid. Growing up with an animal, playing together, laughing together, sleeping together, things you can do with the big floofers that are puppies, it’s really good for you. You make memories, and time passes quickly.
As such, before you know it, it’ll have been decades since you got your pet, and that makes looking back memory lane all the more impressive. Here, we have a collection of images, of people with their puppies of all sorts of breeds, growing up together. It might bring a tear to your eye, or it might make you want a puppy of your own, irrespective of how old you are right now. Tell us how you feel at the end of all this!
Source: Imgur
Purina did an enlightening article about the benefits!
Although childhood isn’t always easy, having a pet provides constant companionship through the ups and downs. Dogs can be a great source of comfort for kids — even when they’re coming to grips with difficult life lessons. Whenever kids feel sad, angry, or afraid, they can always turn to their pet. Petting and cuddling dogs has also been shown to relieve stress and help people relax.
Caring for a dog also encourages a more active lifestyle. Kids with dogs exercise eleven minutes a day more than their non-dog owning peers. That might not sound like a lot, but over a week or month, it really adds up. Many dogs require daily walks or runs and plenty of play time. Those adorable puppy eyes they give you are sure to motivate you — even when you’re not feeling up to it.
Having a pet is a great way to teach responsibility to kids. Making sure that the family dog has food and water gives children a first glimpse of accountability and obligation. Children also learn empathy and compassion by caring for their pet, while developing a higher level of self-esteem by taking care of their pet-owning responsibilities.
Studies have found that babies raised in close contact with a pet get sick less often in their first year of life, meaning fewer visits to the doctor’s office. Exposure to pet dander and the microbes that pets carry into the home from the outdoors is suggested to improve babies’ developing immune systems. Research has also found that children who grow up with dogs experience a reduced risk of allergies.
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of dogs in early childhood is simply that they make children happy! Interaction with animals has been proven to raise levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are the chemical building blocks of positive feelings. All science aside, playing and interacting with dogs is just plain fun — and it’s bound to brighten any kid’s day. Growing up with a dog can enrich the lives of children in so many ways. Having a dog join your family may be one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids.
What do you think?
