Adolescents with a dog at home are found to be emotionally healthier

Research shows that growing up around a dog can support mental health, empathy and prosocial behaviour. Photo: dpa/Florian Schuh

It seems that parents fretting about a surly or withdrawn or plain obnoxious teenager could do worse than keep a dog around the house.

That's because doing so "has beneficial effects, especially for adolescents, and these effects may be mediated through symbiosis with microorganisms," said Takefumi Kikusui of Azabu University in Japan.