When is a Child “Old Enough” to Get a Dog?
Deciding when your family is ready to get a dog can be a big decision. There is a lot to think about when pondering adoption and one of the most common things people think of is whether or not their children are ready to get a dog.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you think you are ready to expand the family:
Are The Adults Excited?
If you are getting a dog just because your kids are begging for one, don’t get a dog. If you are busy and think a dog is going to send the family into chaos, it is a good idea to wait until everyone in the family is ready for the commitment and responsibility that a pup can bring.
Is The Dog Lover Home?
If the person who most wants a dog in the family is not going to be home to take care of the dog, it might not be the time to get a dog. Ultimately, the brunt of the dog care is going to fall on the person who spends the most amount of time with the dog, so if that person is not excited at the thought of adding a canine to the family you might need to wait.
Who Will Train the Dog?
In order to make the addition of a dog into your family a happy one, training the dog will be essential. Who is going to take on the responsibility of making sure the dog knows where to go potty or what is a chew toy vs. not a chew toy? Do you have the time and patience to train a dog and how will you handle a situation where the dog chews up a child’s toy?
Who Will Train the Kids?
Even the most well-behaved dogs are going to defend themselves against repeated rough play. Who is going to train the children to know what is good and bad play with the dog and how to tell when the dog is done playing?
Not only is the important for the happiness of the dog, but the safety of the family. If the dog has had enough, eventually it could lead to aggressive behavior.
Carefully monitor children’s interactions with the dog for a long time before you think you can trust your child to interact with the dog without supervision.
How Do You Handle Chaos?
Ultimately, adding a dog to the family can completely change the dynamic of a household? Is this something you are prepared for? Dogs who need extra exercise can be very vocal, rambunctious, and mischievous. Are you prepared to add barking to the chorus of cries in your house?
Are You Ready For a Dog?
If you have thoroughly thought about each of the above questions and feel confident you are prepared for all of the possible scenarios, the only thing left to think about is whether or not you are ready to make the long-term commitment of pet ownership. As your life changes, are you still going to be excited about your dog and spend time making sure it’s as happy and healthy as possible? Also consider if your children are old enough to handle some of the responsibility of feeding or walking the dog, as well as respecting the dog’s boundaries.
Once you have a plan in place for all of these situations, all that’s left is to pick the perfect furry addition to your family!