The new research shows that dog owners can be just as successful as those who don’t have pets and are able to take care of the health of their dogs without resorting to pet food.

The researchers also said that there’s no evidence that dogs with more exercise or socialization are at higher risk of contracting allergies, but that it’s important to make sure they get enough exercise and socialization to reduce their risk of developing an allergy.

The new research was presented Wednesday at the Society for Research on Animal Health annual meeting in New Orleans.