My family and I have two cats and two dogs. One of the cats and one of the dogs were “rescued.” My dogs are great with my kids. I love to watch my baby’s eyes light up when the dogs come near him. He likes to touch their soft fur and watch them play. My daughter is at the age where she can help walk the dogs. Indeed, canines are fun. However, they are also a big commitment. In addition, with kids in the house, it is important to adopt the right type of dog for your family. Here are some tips for adopting a shelter dog when you have kids.
Do your Research
Before we had children, we got a border collie. He is a great dog. However, he is high energy and not the best with our cats. In addition, border collies have a “herding instinct” and may try to herd children. Our border collie turned out to be good with the kids. However, according to bcrescue.org sometimes the “herding instinct” can be “incompatible with a household containing children.” Indeed, different breeds have different needs and personalities. If you do your research, you are more likely to find dog that is compatible your family. Don’t rule out the older dogs either. They are often more mature than a puppy.
Take your Children to the Shelter
The easiest way to see if a dog will be compatible with your children is to take them to the shelter. Before visiting, explain to your children that you are just visiting the dogs. This way, if you don’t find the right dog, your children won’t be disappointed. Many shelters have websites with pictures and information on it. This will allow your kids to see what types of dogs may be at the shelter.
Be Prepared
Dogs can be expensive and time consuming. A few days after adopting our first dog, she came down with Parvo. We shelled out the money to keep her overnight in an emergency facility. She also had to have surgery for her elbow dysplasia. Now at age eight, she has arthritis and needs daily fish oil and medicine. Another rescue dog of mine had osteosarcoma and died shortly after his first birthday. I’ve had other pets that only needed food, water and love. However, you have to be prepared and set aside a monthly budget for your animal.
Make a Commitment
For us, our dogs are part of the family. We try to walk and play with them. Going into the backyard at night to play with our furry friends is a family affair. I think the interaction with the dogs has made my daughter more compassionate.
Be Cautious
When at the shelter, make sure your children know not to reach their hands into the kennels. Once you adopt, it’s important to look for signs of aggression like nipping, mouthing or growling. Even though I trust my dogs, I don’t leave my daughter alone with them in the backyard.
Adopting a dog is a wonderful way to add to your family.
Sources:
petfinder.com
bcrescue.org
Related Content:
Pets and Children: Do’s and Don’ts
4 Kids’ Activities for National Dog Day
Five Non-Messy Arts and Crafts Activities for Kids
