BY the zillionth time your child asks, “can we get a puppy please?” You finally give pet ownership some serious consideration. The matter deserves a good deal of thought, since caring for an animal is a big responsibility, one that you’ll ultimately share with your child no matter how much he promises to take care of his furry friend himself.
- You can adopt from a shelter. You’ll find lots of loving animals in need of a home at your local animal shelter. The staff can help you find a pet that suits your family’s needs and may be able to tell you about the animal’s history.
- An outgoing animal. If the pet is cringing in the corner of his cage or seems overly shy, he probably won’t be good around kids.
- A friendly temeperament. A dog that seems overly protective of his treats or snarls when it’s taken away may be too aggressive to make a good family pet.
- Bright eyes and shiny coat of fur. These are signs of a happy, healthy animal.
Now who’s going to walk the puppy? Here are some guidelines:
Ages 0-3 – Don’t expect your curious baby or toddler to do anything other than grab, poke or crawl on your pet. Be extra vigilant to keep both your child and animal safe.
Ages 3-5 – Preschool begins to understand that pets have feelings and can help with tasks that make the animal happy, such as petting it or filling its food and water containers.
Ages 4-9 – better concentration allows your child to help with chores like cleaning the cage, or changing water in a fishbowl.Still supervise to ensure your pet’s daily needs are taken care of..
Ages 9 and up- Older kids can take on primary responsibility for their pet. Assign your child a daily task like walking the dog, playing fetch, scooping doggy litter, or brushing the animal’s fur.
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