08/19/2026
A large-scale research project surveyed data from more than 21,000 dogs.
Researchers from several universities studied how environment and companionship relate to canine health.
Dogs living with another companion animal, whether a dog or a different species, had higher reported health scores and fewer disease diagnoses than dogs without one.
The study's lead researcher said the team studied dogs partly because their shorter lifespans make it easier to observe environmental effects over a full life.
The study measured health scores and disease diagnoses. It did not directly track how long the dogs lived.
The findings were published in Evolution, Medicine and Public Health in 2023.
Household income and neighborhood stability also correlated with dog health, though researchers said companionship's effect outweighed those factors.
Sources: Dog Aging Project research (Evolution, Medicine & Public Health), Dogtime, Scripps News
Note: AI generated images.