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Are you a parent considering adding a dog into the mix? If so, you've come to the right place. Read our tips, tricks and suggestions for raising the best dog for your family!
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A young boy smiling with eyes closed while hugging a golden retriever indoors — exploring how a family dog can support a child's mental health and wellbeing

Can a Family Dog Support a Child’s Mental Health? | Best Family Dogs

August 7, 2026 No Comments

  Home / Dog Health & Family Wellness / Child Mental Health & Dogs Dog Health & Family Wellness Can a Family Dog Support Your Child’s Mental Health? What the research really says about dogs, children’s wellbeing, and the small everyday moments that help a healthy bond grow. By Best Family Dogs  ·  Evidence-informed  · 

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Keep your dog happy & healthy- shop our top picks

Peace of Mind for Every Family Dog Owner

Backyard gates left open, beach days off-leash, a teen who forgets to double-check the latch — FitBark GPS 2nd Gen gives real-time location and activity tracking so you always know where your dog is. Includes the device plus an annual subscription for GPS and health monitoring — built for busy summer households.
Track Your Dog — Shop Now

Family Dog Walks, Summer-Ready

From backyard playtime to park trips and beach days, keep every summer outing mess-free — even when the kids tag along or your teen grabs the leash solo. 600 leak-proof, unscented poop bags stocked in bulk mean nobody's ever caught empty-handed, and every purchase gives back to our local SPCA.
Shop the Family Bulk Pack

Hands-Free Walks, Made Easy

A shock-absorbing bungee leash with an adjustable waist belt and removable pouch — so your hands stay free for a stroller, a phone, or a kid's hand. Built for walks, jogs, and hikes with the whole family.
Shop the Hands-Free Leash

Peace of Mind, One Glance Away

Real-time GPS location plus daily health and activity monitoring — so you and the family always know where your dog is and how they're doing. Includes the device plus an annual subscription for GPS and health tracking.
Track Your Dog — Shop Now
Giving back is part of raising dogs responsibly 🐾 As a family dogs blogger, we believe caring for dogs goes beyond our own homes. This video documents our annual donation to BC SPCA Burnaby, supporting local dogs who need care, shelter, and medical support. Families play a powerful role in dog health, well-being, and humane care. When families choose to support animal welfare organizations, they help improve outcomes for dogs across the community—especially those still waiting for safe, loving homes. This visit to the SPCA is a small reminder that dog care is a shared responsibility. Together, families can support better health, safer environments, and brighter futures for dogs in our local community. Thank you to all families who choose compassion, education, and community support for dogs. #familydogs, #SPCA #dogcare #dogwellbeing
Giving Back: Supporting Local Dogs - Together
Thank you for your continued support this year! Love this community we are building. #communitysupport #donation
SPCA Donation Day 2024!
Discover how to set up the FitBark 2 tracker for dogs, perfect for monitoring activity and wellness, with tips for allergy-prone breeds like Australian Shepherds. Using a FitBark 2 health and activity tracker is an excellent method to keep an eye on your dog's activity, sleep, and overall well-being, especially if your pet has allergies or sensitive skin. This video provides a detailed walkthrough of the FitBark setup process, including pairing the device with the app, creating a profile for your pet, and ensuring everything is set up for everyday use, with a focus on an Australian Shepherd with allergies. FitBark devices can be easily attached to your dog's collar and sync via Bluetooth with the iOS/Android app, allowing you to monitor daily activity levels, rest patterns, behavior, and overall wellness directly from your phone. This guide is perfect for new dog owners or anyone looking to get started with FitBark, covering everything from device pairing to basic settings and considerations for dogs with allergies. Whether you own an active breed such as an Australian Shepherd, a dog with skin sensitivities, or simply aim to gain deeper insights into your dog's health, this video is your comprehensive guide. Additional Resources: Learn more about FitBark 2: https://tidd.ly/48LK26T Related FitBark video for existing users: If you’re already using the FitBark app and want to go deeper, watch my walkthrough of the FitBark social & pack features — how experienced dog parents use the app to connect, compare activity, and build community beyond basic tracking. ▶️ Advanced FitBark App Feature: Dog Pack, Friends & Social Tracking 👉 https://youtu.be/AHJRaXq4S08?si=AukguKuE0bK36_Sa #FitBark #FitBark2 #DogHealthTracker #DogActivityTracker #DogWellness #DogFitnessTracker #AustralianShepherd #AussieDog #DogsWithAllergies #SensitiveSkinDogs #PetHealthMonitoring #DogCareTips
FitBark 2 Setup & Pairing – Track Dog Activity, Sleep & Health (Australian Shepherd with Allergies)
Thank you to all our supporters this year! We have made a donation to our local SPCA, to support the rescue dogs. This has been made possible from our commission from FitBark devices and products purchased through our online store. Thank you again, and we are hoping to double our donation next year! #SPCA #donation #bestfamilydogs
SPCA Donation Day
In this video, I show you how to sync your Apple Watch with the FitBark app, so you can quietly check your dog’s activity, rest, and wellness patterns right from your wrist — alongside your own health data. 🐾 Shop FitBark (Trusted Tools I Use) FitBark GPS (GPS tracking requires subscription) https://tidd.ly/43vfO4i FitBark 2 Health Monitor (No GPS|No subscription fees) https://tidd.ly/47f27aP This setup is ideal for busy families, city dog owners, and guardians of active or sensitive breeds who want clear insight without micromanaging. Rather than guessing whether your dog has had enough movement or recovery, syncing FitBark to Apple Watch supports consistent, informed routines that fit real life. FitBark is designed to be durable, lightweight, and easy to live with, making it a practical tool for long-term dog wellness — not just short-term activity tracking. 👉 By the end of this video, you’ll understand: • How to connect FitBark to Apple Watch • Where your dog’s activity and rest data appears • Why syncing supports daily consistency (not just step counts) • How simple awareness can support long-term health and behaviour 🐕 New to FitBark or managing a sensitive breed? ▶ FitBark 2 Setup for an Australian Shepherd with Allergies 🎥 https://youtu.be/MXVAFWPb95Y Learn how daily movement awareness supports allergy-prone and active breeds — especially in family and apartment settings. 👥 Already using FitBark and want more out of it? ▶ Advanced FitBark Feature: Building a Dog Walking & Social Community 🎥 https://youtu.be/AHJRaXq4S08 See how experienced users use FitBark’s social features to support consistency, accountability, and community — without turning it into “fitness pressure.” 💬 Let’s Talk Are you using FitBark mainly for activity, rest, or health awareness? Tell me which FitBark model and Apple Watch you’re using — I read and reply to comments. #FitBark #AppleWatch #FitBarkApp #DogHealth #DogWellness #DogActivityTracker #PetTech #FamilyDogs #SensitiveBreeds #AustralianShepherd #DogMovement #PreventativePetCare
How to Sync FitBark with Apple Watch ⌚🐶 | Daily Movement Awareness for You & Your Dog
Many studies have shown that owning a dog benefits human health. Discover how your health improves simply by owning a dog. Dogs help us manage our stress, depression and anxiety, while potentially lowering high blood pressure and reducing our risk of heart disease and diabetes! I was so impressed by some of these results that I wanted to know from you - what was your primary motivation for dog owning? Companionship or your health? Post 😊 for health, and 😊🐕 for companionship. Any stories or comments you want to share are greatly appreciated. Follow up reading https://best-family-dogs.com/human-health-improved-by-owning-a-dog/ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog/ https://pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-pets-improve-your-health #dogfitness #humanhealth #health #human #dogs #healthylifesytle #medicalhealth #mentalhealth #healthylife #chronicillness #healthmanagement
Health improved By Dog Owning
Watching dog play can be exciting! But how do you know if both dogs are having fun? In this short video, I give you some tips to understand what some behaviours mean. These dogs are well socialized and have played together before. They provide a wonderful example of healthy dog play. The large dog is female also playing with a female French bulldog. The male French bulldog is pre-occupied with playing fetch. The bulldogs live together, the larger dog is a friend. #dogplaying #dogplayingvideo #dogsplaying #nationalcaninefitnessmonth #nationaldogfitnessmonth #dogfitnessmonth
Good Dogs Playing
This is such an exciting time in your lives! Puppies are adorable and super fun - but many owners struggle to potty train with success. You aren’t alone if you think it’s taking longer than it should or if you are concerned about still having one-off accidents in the house. Here are some strategies that might help you gain success at home while you strive to overcome this developmental milestone! Puppy Potty Training https://youtu.be/Y2_K-5nUI_s More from me: www.best-family-dogs.com #puppytraining #puppypottytraining #dogtraining #trainyourdog #positivedogtraining
Puppy Potty Training
Welcome back!! 👋 Hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season. This month we welcome 2 new subscribers and I am feeling so honoured that the rest of you keep coming back for more! This month is National Train Your Dog Month. Here’s some tips and tricks to train the “sit” command. Please enjoy these free resources and keep practicing! If you have a basic obedience skill you want some tips on please drop it in the comments. Thanks for watching. Please 👍, if you found 1 new way to practice the “sit” command with your dog. #dogtraining #trainyourdog #freetips #dogsit #professionaldogtraining
January: National Train Your Dog Month
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