A landmark study led by researchers at Azabu University in Japan revealed an entirely new mechanism for how dogs help teens.
: Teens who own dogs have a distinctly different composition of oral and gut bacteria compared to those who do not.
According to data tracking adolescents in the Tokyo Teenager Cohort Study , 13-year-olds who own dogs show measurable psychological advantages by age 14. Dog ownership heavily correlates with a decrease in several problem areas: doggies teens
profoundly boost the mental health and social development of teenagers .
: Teens with dogs are less likely to isolate themselves. A landmark study led by researchers at Azabu
: The study discovered that certain bacteria promoting empathy and prosociality were abundant in dog-owning teens.
Outside of the microbiology, experts at institutions like the Tufts PAW Lab point to the foundational social support dogs provide. PAW Lab's Teen & Dog Study Recognized Dog ownership heavily correlates with a decrease in
: Pups help quiet chaotic or intrusive adolescent thoughts.