Effects of dog ownership on children’s social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE cohort study

Introduction: Dog ownership is common in families with children and could play a role in children’s social-emotional development. This study used longitudinal data on dog ownership and changing dog ownership to investigate their effects on young children’s social-emotional development. Methods: Parents reported family dog ownership when their child was aged 2–5 years and at 5–7 years. Children (n = 591) were assigned to a dog ownership group by combining their current and prior dog ownership status. The parent-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) measured children’s social-emotional development at 5–7 years. Analyses included linear, Poisson, and logistic regression and adjusted for socio-demographic factors. Results: Girls who acquired a dog had significantly higher peer problems scores than non-dog owner girls (exp(β) = 1.8; 95% CI 1.3, 2.6). Boys who acquired a dog had significantly lower peer problems scores than continuing non-dog owner boys (exp(β) = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3, 0.8). There were no other significant effects observed between dog ownership group and SDQ scores or the odds of having abnormal scores. Conclusions: Overall, changing or continuing dog ownership status had minimal impact on young children’s social-emotional development. Future longitudinal research should examine the effects of dog ownership on child development by family characteristics and attachment to the dog. Impact: Dog acquisition was associated with higher peer problems for girls and lower peer problems for boys, but not the odds of having abnormal peer problems scores. Dog acquisition, dog loss, and continuing dog ownership status were not associated with other measure of social-emotional development. This study used longitudinal data to examine effects of dog ownership on child development. Overall, changing or continuing dog ownership status had minimal impact on young children’s social-emotional development. Since dog ownership is selected into, longitudinal research is needed to confirm if changes in children’s social-emotional development occur following changes in dog ownership.