Early Socialization Reduces Health Risks

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Socializing our new puppy early (rides on the subway, introduction to new people and play with other dogs) appears to have impressed a calm, gentle demeanor on his young personality--it also apparently reduces cancer risks.

According to "Socialising reduces cancer risk in young" by Jacqueline Maley (April 23, 2005; http://www.smh.com.au/news/Health/Socialising-reduces-cancer-risk-in-young/2005/04/22/1114152326226.html?oneclick=true): "The earlier children are exposed to infections, the less likely they are to develop childhood leukaemia, research shows. A study published in the British medical journal BMJ concluded that early social activity with children outside the family was beneficial to child health because it exposed them to everyday infections. If children were exposed between three and six months of age they received the most protective effect."

British researchers apparently followed 3140 children with different types of cancer, including leukaemia, and 6305 healthy children around the same age. They tracked the histories of both groups and found the healthy children were much more likely to have been in some form of child care from an early age.

"The research results add weight to the emerging theory that exposure to germs in childhood is necessary to build the body's natural resistance to various bugs."

Apparently human interdependence plays a salutary role as well - by exposing one another to each other's "bugs" we literally gain immunity. Now there's a metaphor to contemplate.
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