Miss A loves dogs!
Every time we pass one on our walk, her excitement is clear as she yells out, “Mummy, look!” and reaches out her little hand.
Lately, though, the excitement seems to fade the moment a puppy gets a little too close.
It’s like she’s becoming more aware that puppies aren’t, well, soft toys, because when this happens, Miss A backs away just as quickly, a little frightened, it seems.
Hmm.
We don’t have a dog – I wish! So, for now, Miss A’s joy at seeing a puppy (at a distance, of course) only lasts for the time we’re out on our walks.
But we’re visiting Babcia soon, and Babcia has a little doggy, so now that Miss A is a little bit older and more aware, it’ll be interesting to see how she reacts.
Anyway, this all got me thinking about the benefits of having a dog.
I grew up with dogs – plural – although they were all outside dogs.
And J grew up with pets as well.
So, it makes sense – and it’s only fair to Miss A – that we get a puppy! Amirite! 😀
There are so many benefits to growing up with a pet, including learning responsibility, learning how to care for another living thing, the mental health benefits, the physical benefits … the list could go on!
And now there’s another benefit to add to that list.
science sides with the puppy dream
New research, which will be presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam* on Sunday 28 September, suggests that babies who grow up around dogs may have a 48% lower risk of developing asthma by age 5.
The study, led by Dr Makiko Nanishi and to be presented by Dr Jacob McCoy of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, analysed dust samples from the homes of more than 1000 babies.
They found that early exposure to dog allergens — specifically a protein called Can f1 — was linked to better lung function and a lower asthma risk.
Cat allergens, on the other hand, showed no protective effect.
“Children spend most of their time indoors, so allergens in the home are an important risk factor that we could potentially alter to reduce asthma,” says Dr McCoy.
While researchers don’t yet understand exactly how dog allergens may protect against asthma, they suspect it might involve changes to the nasal microbiome or the developing immune system.
what this means for us
Seasonal allergies, including asthma, run in my family – looking at you hay fever!
So, could getting a puppy mean Miss A stays healthier and avoids having to deal with asthma that stems from seasonal allergies?
Of course, a dog is a big commitment – daily walks, vet and dog food bills etc.
And science is never a guarantee.
Dr Erol Gaillard, a paediatric asthma expert from the University of Leicester, cautions that while the findings are encouraging, “we need to know more about this link and how living with pets affects children’s developing lungs in the longer term.”
But it would be oh so sweet to watch Miss A running in the park, chasing a dog that’s hers.
For now, we’ll have to settle for admiring the dogs around us on our walks, and having fun with Babcia’s doggy on our next visit.
But who knows what the future will bring. 😉
Honestly, THIS is how I imagine our life … (love this movie!)
x G.
*European Respiratory Society Congress: Abstract no: OA1265 “Association of early-life dust allergens and endotoxin with childhood asthma and lung function: An analysis of the CHILD study”, by Jacob McCoy et al; Presented in session, “Paediatric asthma: important novel insights into mechanism, diagnosis and management” at 11:00-12:15 CEST on Sunday 28 September 2025.
editor, journalist, digital content creator with a background in nutrition & dietetics.
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