 A recent survey by Kent State University suggests that man's best friend might be due for an upgrade to a family's best friend. They found that kids who have a close bond with a dog tend to have better relationships with parents. The casual link isn't clear, but researchers suspect a positive feedback loop in which each relationship reinforces the other. They also confirmed something else we already knew. Having a non-judgmental friend is soothing to the soul. Dogs prove to have a great calming effect for kids in stressful situations.