Dogs teach us about unconditional love and they are there for us through thick and thin. They make us laugh, they patiently listen to our problems, they keep us happy and healthy, and they teach us how to be more human.
Dogs also comfort us when we are sad, and they stand by us when we are in trouble. This is the case for 3-year-old Peyton Smith whose picture went viral in January. He was on a time-out and his dog, Dash, an English mastiff, was beside him, giving him a shoulder to cry on.
The dog's loyalty during a kid's time-out
According to Peyton's mother, Jillian Smith said that Peyton landed himself a time-out after he fought with his sister, Ryleigh. She made him choose on what punishment should be given to him, either he goes to his room or he serves a time-out. That was when Peyton walked to the corner and after 10 seconds, their dog Dash came in and sat beside him.
Jillian Smith was able to capture the exact moment that her son placed his hand around their dog, she then shared the adorable moment on her social media account with the caption "When you're in time out but your best pal won't let you serve your time alone." The picture was shared 47,000 times, immediately attracting attention from animal loves and families with pets.
Jillian said in an interview that Peyton and Dash have a really good relationship, the child often dresses him up in superhero costumes and they re-enact fight scenes, and the English mastiff just lets him do what he wants. She also said that Dash is the first one that Peyton greets after coming home from school, the first one that he says goodbye to when he goes to school and he tells him goodnight every night. They are like two peas in a pod.
Relationship between children and pets
Children love animals. The bond between children and their pets is something that no one can explain, and pets are capable of love too, as they can feel the same intensity and care as humans do. The unconditional love that animals give can teach your child the value of loyalty, happiness, and friendship. According to Affinity Foundation, it is best to adopt a pet while your children are growing up because it can shape how they are as a person.
The study done by the Affinity Foundation showed the benefits and the importance of letting your child have pets. When children have pets that they adore and love, they become more responsible because they want to feed and care for the animal in an altruistic, autonomous and generous way.
Pets can also help with a child's self-esteem because taking care of their pets can make the child feel useful, they know that they are doing an incredible job and they also gain confidence in their abilities. A bond between a child and their pet can help improve the child's relationship with the whole family because pets can be a uniting force between the members of the family.
As for Peyton, the incident showed him and his family that he has a friend for life, and Dash will always be there for him no matter what.
ALSO READ: 5 Reasons Why Adopting Pet Can Help You Prepare Towards Parenthood
