How Children and Dogs Build Social Attachment

Dogs can be an important part of a child's everyday life. They can play together, they can walk together, or they can simply spend time together. But having a dog does not automatically create a strong relationship. Research suggests that the quality of the bond between a child and a dog may matter more than simply having a dog.

"the degree of the social bond between child and dog may mediate the beneficial outcomes of dog ownership."

The review found that stronger bonds between children and dogs are associated with better outcomes for children. Children with stronger attachments to their dogs have been associated with greater happiness, confidence, and physical activity.

"children with higher reported social attachment to their dog walked their dog more frequently, which suggests that strong social bonds to pet dogs could increase physical activity beyond dog ownership"

Children who were more attached to their dogs also spent more time being physically active and walking their dogs. Shared activities create opportunities for connection.

"Social bond formation is an intrinsically dyadic, interactive process where each interactor’s behavior (and underlying neural and endocrine responses) influences the other’s"

The relationship is not one sided. A child and a dog's behaviors influence each other. The researchers argue that we need to look at both sides of the relationship to understand how strong bonds develop.

Meaningful relationships grow through interaction. Children and dogs connect by playing, walking, caring for each other, and spending time together. The relationship becomes stronger when both sides respond to each other. A dog is not simply part of a child's environment. The relationship itself can become an important part of the child's everyday experience.

References

Reilly, O. T., Somerville, L. H., & Hecht, E. E. (2024). Mechanisms of social attachment between children and pet dogs. Animals https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14203036

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