The Dog Aging Project is a collaboration among pooch parents, veterinarians and researchers looking to identify the biologic and environmental factors that allow our canine companions to live their best — and longest — lives. The project is following tens of thousands of dogs for ten years and announcing some of their findings along the way.

Their survey data on more than 21,000 dogs show that dogs who live together — experiencing routine canine interaction — are significantly healthier than those that don’t. Other factors, such as living in stable neighborhoods, in homes with greater financial stability and with older adults, lead to better health outcomes too. But these factors have only about one-fifth the impact of canine socialization.

It looks like our dogs know what’s good for them when they rush to play with fellow canines.