Are Raccoon Dogs Good for Your Head?

14 May Are Raccoon Dogs Good for Your Head?

You probably don’t need us to tell you that raccoon dogs are exceptional animals. There’s nothing like working with a dog that’s been trained using equipment like the Dogtra Pathfinder GPS system or the Garmin Astro 320.

But scientists have discovered more proof that not just raccoon dogs, but all dogs are superior… to cats (as if you needed more proof). A new study shows that if you grow up with a dog, you’ll have a lower chance of developing schizophrenia. If you get your kid a cat, however, all you can do is hope for the best.

As Science Daily reports, “Ever since humans domesticated the dog, the faithful, obedient and protective animal has provided its owner with companionship and emotional well-being. Now, a study from Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that being around ‘man’s best friend’ from an early age may have a health benefit as well — lessening the chance of developing schizophrenia as an adult.”

Robert Yolken, M.D., chair of the Stanley Division of Pediatric Neurovirology and professor of neurovirology in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, was the lead author of the research paper. “Serious psychiatric disorders have been associated with alterations in the immune system linked to environmental exposures in early life, and since household pets are often among the first things with which children have close contact, it was logical for us to explore the possibilities of a connection between the two,” he is quoted as saying in Science Daily.

Here’s the good part: “While Fido may help prevent that condition, the jury is still out on whether or not there’s any link, positive or negative, between being raised with Fluffy the cat and later developing either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.”

So, if your son or daughter is asking for a dog, you might want to think about saying yes. And then you might want to think about getting some dog training supplies, like some Garmin accessories or maybe a Dogtra collar.