Dogs and kids seem to go together like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a perfect match for the most part. For many of us, growing up included at least one dog and maybe a cat or two.
Not much attention was paid to spaying or neutering, kittens or puppies were considered part of the game when keeping a pet. Trips to the vet were only for dire emergencies and it took a long time to figure out what a dire emergency was.
Not much attention was paid to what we fed our pets, dogs usually got table scraps and cats were supposed to catch their food and usually fed some milk and whatever else they ate.
Life was quite simple during those childhood days; Mom and Dad assigned simple chores and the family as a group kept an eye on each other, including the pets.
Where did those times go and why is life suddenly so much more complex?
While I remember a time when our family had nine dogs. We did not go out to acquire nine dogs, the dogs acquired us. With the exception of the three we chose to be our dogs, the other six fell from the sky and made it to our driveway to become members of our household.
And this is where our story begins. Where does the responsibility fit in when you first set out to get a pet for yourself or your child?
Many parents think that giving their child a dog will teach them responsibility. The child will learn to be responsible for the care of something. The child will learn empathy and love for another living being. And if all else fails, there will be plenty of opportunities to get some really cute photos of your child and dog to show off to the family.
These are all great reasons to get a dog, but one very important point is missing. If you want to teach your child to be a responsible dog owner, you need to be too. You cannot teach your child anything if you are not setting an example with your own behavior.
Having a dog as a pet in the family means just that, the dog is part of the family and what do the members of the family do? They take care of each other. If mom or dad is not a good role model when it comes to caring for the dog, how is the child going to learn?
Certainly, you can assign all the chores to the child that you want, but if you are not willing to step in when necessary and show the child where he is being neglectful and shoulder the duty, nothing is gained.
Threatening to get rid of the dog if the child does not attend to his responsibilities does not teach responsibility, it teaches the child that the dog is a disposable item and has no meaning like a broken toy. The dog is not really a beloved member of the family, but rather something that can be dumped (like in our driveway) or taken to a shelter. And if the child in a fit of rage says, “Okay, take the dog,” even if he doesn’t mean it. How can we measure the emotional trauma the child may face in the future, when the guilt of leaving the dog takes hold?
Giving up a dog or cat may not seem like an emotional issue to a busy parent who doesn’t care about pets, but as reality sets in for a child, it can damage that child’s future ability to fulfill their responsibilities or committing to relationships, canine or otherwise. . Our animal shelters are filled with these broken ties, as are many homes where animals have been dropped off along the roadside and caring people have picked them up to give them a forever home.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is, if you’re a parent and you want to teach your child some responsibility, as well as bring more love and joy into your home by having a dog. Only do this if you, the parent, are going to commit to helping care for the pet. Do not even think if you are going to use the pet as a threat on the child’s head or as a means of punishment for a fault. Unless you are willing to accept the dog as part of your growing family, as a responsibility to you and your child, buy a fish.
If your child doesn’t fulfill their responsibility, neglect their chores, take away a privilege, don’t use the dog as a threat, you wouldn’t threaten to take away a younger brother or sister if the older child didn’t fulfill a babysitting responsibility. would you do it? If your dog isn’t part of the “real” family, he doesn’t have to be there in the first place.
The only way a child can learn to be a responsible human being is by following in their parents’ footsteps. If you are a loving, humane and caring person, showing love and compassion not only to people, but also to the family pet, then guess what your child will learn to do! Yes, follow in the footsteps of mom or dad!
Having to raise a puppy together with a child is not an easy task. If you are not familiar with the problems ahead, attend some training classes that many classes will allow children over the age of seven. Use the same positive training methods with the puppy that you would with your child. Do not hit or hit the puppy for having done wrong.
Read a dog training book or two so you know what to expect before you venture out to find a dog. Do some research on which breeds are better with children, some are and some aren’t.
Never, and I can’t say this strongly enough, leave a child under the age of eight alone with a dog, puppy or not. Too many dogs have bitten children when left unattended.
Teach your child to play gently with your dog. When walking your dog and you have a small child, put the dog on two leashes and let your child walk on the longer leash and you stay in control on the shorter one.
You can teach your child and your dog basic commands like sit, stay, and come. Teach your child that these commands should not be used as “toys” to drive the dog crazy, as some children will continue to approach the dog until he becomes stressed and may bite. If your child understands that he treats his dog as if he were a close friend with kindness and courtesy, the relationship should last a lifetime.
I hope these few ideas and thoughts will help you and your family build a lasting and loving relationship with your family pet.