Pre-school children may be better behaved and kinder if they have a family dog, a study has found. Experts believe younger children, who spend more time with pets as they are not at school, learn better empathy. Researchers at the University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute looked at more than 1,600 families with children aged two to five. Children from dog-owning households were 23 per cent less likely to have difficulties with their emotions and social interactions compared to children who did not own a dog. Playing with their pet three or more times a week made children 74 per cent more likely to be kind to others.

Source: Daily Mail July 05, 2020 23:10 UTC