This is why families of autistic children need a dog

Owning a dog can significantly reduce stress in families with an autistic child, says new research.

Owning a pet dog can significantly reduce stress in families with a child with autism according to new research.

Carried out by a team of researchers at the University of Lincoln, in Britain, and funded by the US-based Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation, the study also found that a pet dog can reduce the number of dysfunctional interactions between parent and child and improve functioning within the family as a whole. The findings can be found published online in the American Journal Of Veterinary Behavior.