First of all I should declare an interest! I am a ‘dog person’. I am most definitely dog-mad. However, in 2020, it would seem that I was not alone and that most of the UK got a puppy to get through lockdown… and if it wasn’t a puppy, it was kittens, hamsters or rabbits.

And whilst I absolutely support a sensible approach and not getting a pet unless you have the capacity and time to care for it, I am a huge fan of teenagers having a pet in their lives.

Pets are good for your teen's health

For teenagers, having a pet to love and cuddle brings so many positives for their wellbeing. Teens can often struggle to talk to others about their feelings, and they can find it hard to show emotions while still remaining ‘cool’, however their dog or cat doesn’t care if they’re cool or not, they just want to be loved (and they usually love back unconditionally).

Dogs are famously always pleased to see you, which for a teenager can be hugely boosting of self-esteem. Lonely teens, or those who are bullied, find solace and comfort in their pets at home.

Pets can be good for your health too

Pets will keep secrets and are the perfect companion whatever the teen’s personality, extrovert or introvert. There are other benefits of course, in particular for having a dog (did I mention I was a fan of our canine friends?!). For example, dogs are a reason for the whole family to exercise and get out in the fresh air. They create a natural conversation starter across the family age barriers, and for the parents, there is always the long-term benefit of having the company of the dog when your young adult eventually leaves home.

I completely recognise that, as Caitlin Moran points out in her brilliant book ‘More than a Woman’, it is usually the mums who end up walking the dog, but even if this is the case, the dogs themselves bring so many positives to a family (along with the muddy paw prints and chewed Christmas tree lights) that I still strongly believe that pets and in particular dogs are fantastic for teenage well-being.

Other options

If having a pet at home is not practical for you, it is still worth investigating the possibility of borrowing other people’s pets, or pet sitting during the holidays, so that your teen learns about responsibility and caring for another living being. I do understand that pets are not for everyone, but in a year that has brought so much misery it has been wonderful to see so many families welcome a new furry baby into their home.