A study with families who have dogs in the United Kingdom identified several mental health challenges, in addition to the benefits of owning a pet for adults and children, suggesting that improving mental health should not be the main motivation to acquire a pet. Rowena Packer, from the Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom, and her colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Families may consider the possibility of adding a dog to the home in the hope that this would improve mental health, especially for children. These hopes were behind many dog acquisitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, previous investigations have yielded ambivalent results about the potential benefits of having a pet, and most studies focused on adult owners, neglecting children’s experiences. To help fill this gap, Packer and her colleagues surveyed adults and children in British families with a dog, collecting data from a total of 382 adults and 216 children aged 8 to 17 years.
Analysis of the survey responses suggested that having a dog brought joy to many parents and children. Many parents felt that their dog provided mental health benefits for their children, and the children reported feeling comfort and happiness with their dogs.
However, more than a third of the adults who were the primary caregivers of the animal in their homes felt that having a dog was more challenging than expected. Compared with experienced dog owners, first-time owners were more likely to find the interactions between children and dogs challenging. Negotiating which family members were responsible for which aspects of dog care also posed a challenge.
Some children reported frustration with their dogs’ attention-seeking behavior. In addition, almost all of the children in the study were allowed to interact with their dog in ways that could increase the risk of being bitten.
Ninety-five percent of the primary dog caregivers in the study were women, with many mothers feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for their dog, suggesting that mothers may bear a larger share of the mental load associated with owning an animal.
Based on the findings, the researchers highlight several considerations for families thinking about getting a dog, such as discussing dog-care responsibilities with children and attending dog-training classes that include safety training for children.
Rowena Packer adds: “Our study shows that young children frequently interact with dogs in ways that can increase the risk of bites, such as hugging them or patting them. Children are especially prone to approach their dogs for comfort when they feel sad, bored, or lonely, which can lead to very close contact that some dogs find stressful. In those moments, dogs may react defensively, sometimes biting or trying to escape the situation. We encourage parents and caregivers to learn about safe dog–child interactions, to set clear boundaries with their children, and to closely monitor their interactions with dogs to protect both the children and the pets.”
Zoe Belshaw concludes: “Bringing a new puppy into the family is often seen as a source of joy, companionship, and fun, but behind the emotion there is a lot of invisible work. Our new investigation suggests that the responsibility does not always fall on whom people would expect. In families with school-age children, we found that, although children and parents may help with certain dog-care tasks, the ongoing responsibility tends to be shouldered mostly by mothers. The mothers involved in our study described feeling overwhelmed as they try to balance the competing needs of their dog and their family, especially during the puppy stages. This workload represents a significant and previously overlooked form of women’s hidden labor.”
