From Popular Science: Pet dogs can help teens’ mental health.
“The most interesting finding from this study is that bacteria promoting prosociality, or empathy, were discovered in the microbiomes of adolescent children who keep dogs,” Kikusui said. “The implication is that the benefits of dog ownership include providing a sense of security through interaction, but I believe it also holds value in its potential to alter the symbiotic microbial community.”
I can imagine some canny teen using this as a way to convince mom and dad to get a dog.