golfkat Travel Blog

Young children who come from dog-owning households and regularly go on family dog walks, or actively play with their dogs, are better behaved than their peers who grew up without a dog, a new study has found.

 

The study, from the University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute, notes that kids aged 2 through 5 who had dogs “had a reduced likelihood of conduct and peer problems, as well as increased pro-social behaviors such as sharing and cooperating.”

Further, the positive effects of growing up with a dog increased the more the children walked or played with their family dog.

I think we have always known this, at least intuitively.  Walking the dog, playing, feeding, cleaning up, and grooming are all part of this huge responsibility.

I have already written about the rise of bicycle riding and bicycle ownership during the pandemic.  Everybody seems to be riding a bicycle these days.  My only concern is that not enough adults are wearing helmets or regular shoes.  And if you pull an old bicycle out of storage, please have it serviced!

From the AP:

Fitness junkies locked out of gyms, commuters fearful of public transit, and families going stir crazy inside their homes during the coronavirus pandemic have created a boom in bicycle sales unseen in decades.

In the United States, bicycle aisles at mass merchandisers like Walmart and Target have been swept clean, and independent shops are doing a brisk business and are selling out of affordable “family” bikes.

Bicycle sales over the past two months saw their biggest spike in the U.S. since the oil crisis of the 1970s, said Jay Townley, who analyzes cycling industry trends at Human Powered Solutions.

As a regular cyclist, I was surprised to learn I had to wait over a month just to get my road bike serviced (annually).  And even more shocked when I had to order some parts online that nobody in the entire city had in stock.  But overall, these are welcome trends.

AP:  The trend is mirrored around the globe, as cities better known for car-clogged streets, like Manila and Rome, install bike lanes to accommodate surging interest in cycling while public transport remains curtailed. In London, municipal authorities plan to go further by banning cars from some central thoroughfares.

Sales of adult leisure bikes tripled in April while overall U.S. bike sales, including kids’ and electric-assist bicycles, doubled from the year before, according to market research firm NPD Group, which tracks retail bike sales.

But I beg of you, please buy a helmet, and wear closed toe shoes.  Carry a water bottle, wear sunscreen, and observe all traffic laws.

The bicycle and the family dog.  What a great combination.  I even went a step further almost four years ago.  I combined them!  How?  I bought an attachment for an old mountain bike, with a tether, so that I can take Lexi on a one+ mile “Bike run” around the neighborhood.  She loves it!  Just remember, attach the tether to a front harness or halter.  Do NOT attach it to a traditional collar!!!  And only go out when the weather is cool (my limit is 80 degrees F) since the road gets too hot.

Other than that, enjoy your dog and your bicycle!!!