Many people think that to have children automatically gives them a good reason to have a dog, and they are right, it is a very good reason, but can’t be the only reason.
Children that grow up with pets, leaving and passing time with them, are proven to be more responsible, less selfish and happier out going children.
This is definitely a good reason to have a dog, but what happens when children loose interest or change their attention to something else? Well this is why we can’t bring a dog to our homes just thinking about our children, but also thinking that the dog is our responsibility and it is our family member and therefore is with us that he/she will stay until the end of their natural life.
Ok, now that we have in mind that the dog will be with us and will be our family member, what is the right way to make then relate to children? The first thing I do is a speech with my son and I explain all that is involved in having a puppy dog:
1)the toys that will be destroyed if he isn’t careful with then
2) the house that will be dirty and he has to help in cleaning
3) the way he has to deal with the dog without hurting but being also firm
4) the places were the dog is allowed to go
5) the feeding time that it is off limits to my son
6) the time he has to spend playing and going out with the dog
7) the money and therefore the sacrifices he has to make in not asking for some things to be bought
Ok, now that we all agree with the points before, it is important to keep them and respect them. My son is now 6 years, but since the age of 3 he makes tasks at home related with the dogs (a good way to take him out of the tv and video games) and we have days of the week to training and taking the dogs in walks.
I also make a point to celebrate the special occasions, like Birthdays and Christmas, with my dogs to remind my son that they are family members also very important to be reminding off.
Dogs are social members and so they know by instinct how to live in group. In order to respect children has high group members, the children must be taught to respect dogs, to not scream at them, not hit them or throw things at then. A calm and, most of the times, natural going way around dogs is the most advisable way from them to interact.
I am also adding to this, that at this point of my life I already change house 3 times and pass through 3 jobs and a divorce. In any time my dogs were in question and they are always considered in any decision I take.
B) Children and strange dogs on the street
When a child grows up with a dog starts to thing that every dog on the street is like the one he has at home. This is something that we must teach in early age, not to touch or play with dogs that we don’t know or haven’t be introduce to.
The proper way is to ask the parent and the owner if it is ok, and then to show the back of the hand to the dog, let him smell and in the end to pet him on the side.
Only dogs with leash or with the owner near him are allowed dogs to my son to ask to pet and possibly play.
The games with strange dogs don’t include lay down on the ground, throw things at the dog, bend over the dog or to clime in any way to the dog. Dogs must be respected!
At home I never let my son alone with the dogs and in every occasion I always tell him to not hurt, scream or throw objects at the dogs. He likes to play fetch with the dogs and this is allowed with my supervision, since my dogs are big and can hurt my son in the middle of the excitement.
C) Bring a baby into a family with dogs
When a couple has a dog and decides to have a baby they must realize that the time will be shorter, the routine will be different, the responsibility will be grater and the money will be less, but the dog must not be in any moment a variable to be discarded.
The first thing we must do at home is to start to limit the dog to the space that will belong to the baby. That way, months before, he will not strange when the baby comes and he will not be allowed to enter in some rooms.
Next is to realize that the 2 months before birth and 3 months after birth the mother will have her time full with the small baby and therefore, the other partner has to do more to take care of his four leg friend.
Finally, babies aren’t toys and therefore shouldn’t be neglected or left unattended anywhere at the house and specially around animals or strange people. It is our obligation to look after our children and if something happens to them it is mainly our fault and definitely not our pet fault that didn’t ask for such a strange thing to come to their life.
Babies don’t smell like people, don’t look like people and definitely don’t sound like people. Even if our pet identifies a baby like a puppy, will treat like one and most of the things like grabbing, screaming, biting and walk away isn’t allowed on puppies and the mother grab them by their necks to punish or bring them closer, something that doesn’t do well with babies.
It is in our hands to teach both dogs and children to share their life’s and respect each other, sharing space and the group.
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