Scientists have found that Man’s best friend is also good for his children too, for young kids who live with a dog may get an immune-system boost against asthma and other allergies.

According to AFP, the investigation, led by Joachim Heinrich of the Institute of Epidemiology at the Heimholtz Centre in Munich, Germany, closely monitored more the health of 3,000 children from birth to the age of six.

Blood tests showed that, in households with dogs, children were less at risk from becoming sensitized to pollens and inhaled allergens—the triggers for asthma and wheezing, allergic rhinitis and eczema—than counterparts in homes without dogs.

Heinrich believes that early exposure to germs brought into the house on dog fur could stimulate maturation of the immune system. In other words, the body’s defenses do not go into allergic overdrive when they are suddenly exposed to dust house mites, pollens and other triggers, AFP said.  However, the study discovered the benefit seen in the children’s antibodies did not show through in terms of symptoms. 

Children with a dog were as susceptible to asthma and the other problems as counterparts without the pets, the study said.

“It is not crystal clear why this is so,” Heinrich told AFP, saying it could be that the protective benefit may show up when the children in the study are a little older. Further assessments will be made when they reach the age of 10.

Heinrich also said further work is needed to understand why dogs appear to deliver this protection before a recommendation can be made to get a canine companion, said AFP.

The study appears in the European Respiratory Journal, published by the European Respiratory Society (ERS).