Dogs v babies: is our love of canines causing falling birthrates?

Why birthrate policies don’t work

ANALYSIS: Before the election, Labor promised policies to lift the declining birthrate, but there is little evidence they will actually work.

Rise of couples 'choosing to have pets instead of babies'

An increase in couples choosing to have a pet instead of babies could be contributing to the declining birthrate in western countries, a new study has suggested.

Dogs are treated like ‘child surrogates’ by their owners, new study finds

People are choosing dogs because they are ‘easier to control and care for than a child’, researchers say

Mama, Dad, Dog. Not a few people care for their animal companions like their own child. What's behind it?

As more Argentines go childless, pampered dogs become part of the family

Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires has among the most pet owners per capita in the world. The country's rising passion for dogs has coincided with falling human fertility.

The Germans spend seven billion euros on pet food and accessories. While the birth rate is falling, dogs live in more than 20 percent of households. Researchers show that there is a connection for the keepers.