Children and pets: when and which ones?

BarcelonaAccording to data from the Companion Animal Identification Archive (AIAC) of the Council of Veterinary Colleges of Catalonia, 1.3 million dogs and 344,385 cats were registered in our country in 2024. In Barcelona, there is already approximately one dog for every 10 inhabitants, which means that in many homes, children and pets coexist amicably. Now, which pets, and from what age do experts recommend families incorporate one into their home? Psychologist and animal-assisted intervention (IAA) professional Silvia Guillamón advises introducing animals into the home from 3-4 years of age, starting with easy-to-handle pets such as fish, hamsters, or rabbits. From 6-7 years of age, "if the child shows interest, empathy, and a capacity for responsibility," she clarifies, living with dogs or cats can be considered. Likewise, with children who already live with a pet and have established a healthy bond, adding another one can be considered, "as long as the well-being of the first animal and the family's ability to care for two are guaranteed," emphasizes the director of the L'Arbre Center.

What personality traits in children can make us think this is a good idea?

"Children who show empathy, respect for living beings, observation skills, and a desire to care can especially benefit from living with a pet," Guillamón points out. "However, adult supervision is necessary, as is ensuring that the animal also has a suitable personality and isn't overexposed," he points out.

Is it necessary to make them part of the commitment and care that living with a pet entails?

For the psychologist, it's "essential" that the child actively participates from the very beginning. Before arrival, she points out, they can be involved in preparing the space, searching for information, and compiling a list of responsibilities. Once the pet becomes part of the family, she affirms, this commitment is maintained through clear routines, adapted to the age of the pet and supervised by an adult.

What skills can be enhanced by this ownership?

Living with a pet, says Guillamón, fosters empathy, a sense of responsibility, autonomy, patience, and the ability to observe and understand nonverbal signals. "For children with difficulty regulating or interacting socially, contact with an animal can foster communication skills, emotional management, and mutual care in a natural and motivating way," he adds.

There are studies that show that the bond between children and animals strengthens self-esteem and reduces stress in children.

"The animal doesn't judge, doesn't demand, and responds with unconditional love," emphasizes the IAA professional. This relationship offers the child a sense of self-worth, which reinforces their self-esteem. Furthermore, she points out, caring for an animal makes them feel useful and competent, an experience, Guillamón emphasizes, "especially valuable for children with anxiety, low self-esteem, or a history of trauma, provided the animal is trained to live with children and their emotional balance is safeguarded."

The latest edition of the Affinity Foundation study on the bond between animals and people showed that 50% of children associate their dog or cat with their "activity and play partner" and that 8 out of 10 children between the ages of 9 and 12 prefer playing with their pets rather than video games.

In Guillamón's opinion, pets can be "great allies for structuring active routines and offering engaging alternatives to digital leisure": walking the dog, preparing agility circuits, taking care of their hygiene, or teaching them tricks... For children with ADHD or ASD, he adds, these activities can also be sustained and contribute to physical and emotional well-being."

Are there cases in which it would not be advisable for a child to live with a pet?

Guillamón does not recommend a pet if there are serious phobias, a lack of family structure, environments with violence or neglect, or if the child exhibits aggressive behavior toward animals. Nor does she recommend a pet if the animal is intended to serve a therapeutic purpose without professional guarantees. In the case of assisted intervention, "it is essential that the animal be well trained, have time to rest, and that its well-being be always respected," she emphasizes. The animal "should not assume roles that do not correspond to it or be seen as a solution to emotional problems not addressed with therapeutic support," the psychologist concludes.