6 benefits of raising your child with a pet

By Stacie Gaetz

According to the Canadian Animal Health Institute, in a 2020 Pet Population Survey, 58 percent of Canadian households owned at least one dog or cat as a pet.

More than half of our population sees the benefit of caring for a furry family member in their home.

The positive aspects of pet ownership are even greater for children.

Studies have shown that caring for a dog, cat, or other animal can help relieve depression and anxiety, lower stress, and improve your overall health.

Starting children off by introducing them to a furry friend that they can love for years to come has a number of benefits.

1. Compassion

A study by Dr. James Serpell of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society found that kids who have a strong relationship with a pet have a more caring attitude towards animals and people.  

Caring for a pet involves getting to know its personality and anticipating its needs. Children learn that a dog whining at the door means it needs to go outside. A cat meowing loudly at its dish means it is hungry. A guinea pig frantically scratching in its cage means it is out of water.

The child can see that the animal is in distress or trying to convey a message and will act accordingly to help the pet get what they need and then revel in the rewards (in the form of a slobbery lick or sweet snuggle).

This goes hand-in-hand with teaching the child the responsibility of taking care of another being.

2. Responsibility

We’ve all heard it from our kids: “If we get a (insert desired pet here), we will take care of it!”

And then, weeks later mom and dad are the only ones who remember to feed, water, walk and care for Fido or Fluffy.

All jokes aside, caring for a pet really does instill a sense of responsibility in a child. From measuring and dumping the food in the dish for a cat when they are really young to having to be home from school at a certain time to walk the dog for an older child, having a being depend on you and living up to that obligation can go a long way in teaching your child important life skills.

It doesn’t have to be a dog or a cat to instill responsibility. Any pet from a hamster to a fish to a reptile needs food, water, a clean place to live and care and attention. Giving the pet what they need goes a long way in becoming a mature and trustworthy person.

3. Companionship

Everyone needs someone. We want to think that our children will come to us for help with all of their problems and will always feel comfortable talking to us about every aspect in their lives but that is just not realistic. There will be times when they are going through something and want nothing to do with you.

Pets can be there in those times. There is no better listener than a dog, cat, hamster or even bird (but be careful because a parrot may repeat your secrets!).

Even when they want to be alone and absolutely do not want your help with something, having a pet in the room can bring them comfort and remind them that we all need somebody.

4. Mental health benefits

As mentioned earlier, owning a pet can reduce of stress, improve self-esteem, decrease the instance of depression, lead to better social skills and much more.

Petting a dog has been associated with reduced levels of stress hormones and increased levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that increases a sense of bonding with others.

One study shows that the sense of achievement a child feels when they have successfully cared for a pet develops their sense of self.

They can also help children make friends by getting them outdoors to meet other kids in the neighborhood and creating a conversation topic to “get the ball rolling” when meeting a new person.

They can also spark topics of interests for school projects and books. Children can even practice their reading skills by sharing a book with their furry friend.

5. Improved immunity & heart health

Research at the University of Alberta has shown that infants from families with furry pets have higher levels of two types of gut microbes associated with lower risks of obesity and allergic disease. The theory suggests that babies exposed to dirt and bacteria from a pet’s fur or paws can create early immunity.

Pets may also help support a healthy heart. Some research suggests that having a dog or cat may reduce your risk of heart disease, possibly because pet ownership is associated with reduced blood pressure, reduced heart rate and healthier cholesterol levels. 

With both mental and physical health benefits, why wouldn’t you get a pet pal?

6. Exercise

Speaking of physical health benefits, pets get you moving. The most obvious example of this this is taking a dog with a walk. Studies show that dog owners are about four times as likely to meet daily physical activity guidelines than those without canine companions.

Other pets can also get your kids out of their seats and away from a screen. Your kiddos can chase their hamster around the house in a ball or run up and down the hallways with a string or cat toy and get Fluffy to follow.

Any pet can motivate them to get moving if they walk to the store to get the animal’s food, cage essentials or litter.

Even the awful (but inevitable) loss of a pet teaches children a lot. Many children’s first significant encounter with death is the loss of a beloved pet. Although devastating, children learn a number of important lessons when they lose an animal. They learn that bereavement is temporary and grief changes as time goes on, that nothing is permanent, and it is important to be grateful for what you have while you have it.

Pets are a great way to teach children life skills in a hand-on way. The benefits of loving an animal are vast and will carry through their whole lives.