Dogs with thriving social networks have improved health and wellness long term, a new Arizona State University study found.

An active social life was proven to be five times more effective on health outcomes than financial conditions, household stability and even the owner’s age, the findings show.

Students at Arizona State University School of Life Sciences conducted the study by surveying more than 21,000 dog owners. They sought to learn how genes, lifestyle and environment can affect aging and disease outcomes.

The team asked owners a series of questions about themselves and Fido, including how physically active they were, their dog’s behavior, diet and medications, the environment they live in, health status and where the owner lived. 

Then they flagged five factors — neighborhood stability, total household income, social time with children, social time with animals, and owner age — to get a full picture on the dog’s social environment and well-being. 

One of the study’s surprising findings was the negative connection between children and a dog’s health.

“We found that time with children actually had a detrimental effect on dog health,” the study’s co-author Layla Brassington told SciTechDaily.com. “The more children or time that owners dedicate to their children likely leads to less time with their furry children.”

Researchers also found that dogs with owners struggling financially and living in adverse conditions were more likely to have poor health.

Dogs who lived among other canines that had the ability to run around and play, meanwhile, were associated with better health. 

“This does show that, like many social animals – including humans, having more social companions can be really important for the dog’s health,” said ASU graduate student Bri McCoy, who headed up the study.