From a New York Times story by Catherine Pearson headlined “Why Dogs Can Be So Healing for Kids”:

An unexpected benefit of adopting Annie, my family’s 40-pound, floppy-eared mutt, is the soothing effect she has had on my children. My sons often come home from a long, packed day at school and flop down on the floor next to Annie’s bed, lying quietly while she licks their fingers and cheeks. Or they’ll rub her belly, taking a beat before they pivot to dinner and homework and everything else that needs to happen before they head to bed.