The American family has remained the same for nearly 250 years since the country was established. One statistic that’s risen is the amount of households adopting dogs. 33% of households from the baby boomer generation have dogs, while 35% of millennial households have dogs.
It’s no surprise that the statistics are rising, as modern adults are getting to the age where the previous generation would have kids and are instead adopting pets. This could be seen as bad, but adopting a pet before having a child establishes the potential for a unique relationship.
Dogs and pets, in general, have become an essential part of any family. They decrease their owners’ stress levels and can help them overcome boredom and sadness.
Couples Having Dogs
Evidence suggests that couples who own dogs are closer to each other, and even when there’s tension in the household, it’s softened by the presence of a dog.
Arguments between couples tend to escalate less, and blood pressure is lower overall when a dog is present. Couples can also better understand how each party is when a dog is present. Their social cues can pick up on subtle emotions. Once a child enters the picture, the overall benefits of a family dog are undeniable.
Dogs In A Family Dynamic
The family dog will be an excellent companion for everyone in the household who already has a child or is thinking of having a baby. If the dog watches the child grow up, it will recognize the family dynamic between them and their parents, and they will act as guardians when they are babies, toddlers, and even preteens.
This protectiveness doesn’t just extend to the child. A loyal dog will also protect any family member from dangers, such as other animals and even home intruders.
A dog is also a great pet for a small child who needs to learn more about life. If a dog is adopted as a pet for a child, they will learn a lot of responsibility early on compared to a child without a pet. The dog can also act as a common way of bonding.
Children Learning From Having A Dog
The family can work together to look after the pet, taking them on walks or bathing them together. Children raised with dogs are also far more open to cooperation and social behavior, which will help them through school and life.
A dog can teach a young child a lot about compassion and trust from having a pet. Dogs, giving unconditional love, will ensure a child is never starved of affection and will make them happier. The learning process from having a dog as a child doesn’t stop there.
A dog will teach a child many other life lessons as well. The child will learn more empathy through life with a dog, and when the dog tragically passes away, it’s an opportunity to teach the child about loss and grief.
Health Benefits For Young and Old Family Members
Dogs can also have health benefits for children. Being in contact with dogs at a young age could boost a child’s immune system, meaning they’ll have fewer infections and illnesses. Children can also learn to be more active, as most dogs need frequent exercise to stay healthy.
As the family grows up and gets older, dogs have also been known to help seniors. So if an elderly relative lives with the family, or when Mom and Dad hit retirement age, they’ll be happy to have the family dog with them. Pet therapy does help, and seniors with dogs are more mentally active, which helps keep some mental illnesses synonymous with old age.
Source:
A family without pets is an incomplete family: Argumentative Essay.
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