There are many benefits to getting a dog for your family, especially if there are kids. Not only do dogs provide companionship, but they also teach kids about responsibility. It can be hard for parents to teach kids about responsibility, but dogs make the perfect teacher with their patience and kindness. So what lessons can dogs teach?
When a family gets a new dog, the kids always want to help out. Giving them age-appropriate tasks will allow the kids to help the dog adjust to its new family. Younger children can fill food and water dishes and help pick up dog toys from around the house. Older children can walk the dog, pick up their waste from the yard, and even bathe them. For families that provide an allowance, this can be another opportunity for their kids to earn more as they will be more willing to help out.
Having a routine is important for the dog and the family. The dog should be fed around the same time every day. If you are potty training a puppy, it’s usually recommended to take the puppy outside the same time every day. Kids will pick up on this and learn when the dog needs to eat and use the bathroom. If a kid is responsible for feeding the dog, then they might feel guilty if they accidentally miss a feeding time. Or if it’s their job to let the dog out and the dog has an accident in the house, the kid might feel that it’s their responsibility to clean the mess up.
Some kids might feel that taking care of the dog is more of a chore than just something that they want to do. It’s up to the parents to show the kids that taking care of the dog is more of a privilege than a chore. By being a responsible family member, kids can learn that taking care of the dog will help him grow and thrive within the family. If a kid doesn’t want to help take care of the dog, then it might be in the family’s best interests to find a different family that can take care of the dog. It’s also important for parents to know whether or not if their kids want a dog and are willing to help out.
Overall, by helping to take care of a dog, kids learn what it’s like to have a living creature rely on them. Granted, taking care of a fish is a lot easier than taking care of a dog, but kids are able to interact more with the dog. Apart from responsibility, caring for a dog teaches kids about compassion, commitment, and it can help build a kid’s self-confidence.
