Dogs have long been known as “man’s best friend”; they are social animals who see the humans around them as their pack and they become strongly attached to those humans.  One of the things about a family pet is that they can help teach responsibility. A dog can be a lot of fun and a great addition to your family, but a dog can also be a lot of work, and there is always the chance the child might tire of the pet and leave the chores for Mom and Dad. Thats when your parenting skills come in to empasize how important it is and how much it means to your pet when your kids help out with them. One tip is to make the chores fun, help the child out if they need it and make it a routine.

Dog Breeds

Choosing a pet for your child is a very important decision that will last for many years. Some pets live ten to twenty years or longer, so the pet you choose today may become a lifelong friend as the child grows. Also, having a pet is a great way to teach your child responsibility.

What type of pet you choose for your child will depend on a variety of factors. How old the child currently is plays a role in your choice of pets, as does where you live, how much room you have, and how much time you as parents have too.

You see, when a child is still somewhat young, they won't be able to take care of most pets completely on their own. It's up to the parents to teach the children how to care for and love pets, and parents usually need to do a lot of the work themselves while their children are still young. So the amount of time you, as the parents, has available to devote towards the pet care, and the teaching of both pet and child will be an important part of choosing the proper pet for your child.

The amount of room you have in your home is important too though. It's not easy to have a dog as a pet when you live in a small apartment for instance. Regardless of how big or small the dog may be, it will still need to be taken outside on a regular basis for exercise, fresh air, and potty training.

If you live in a small apartment plus you and your child are not home for long periods of time during the day, this is very hard on a pet dog. The dog may be cooped up alone in an apartment for eight, ten, or even twelve hours a day, and this could cause problems over time because he'll be lonely, and he could resort to unpleasant behavior because of that lonliness and boredom.

In general, dogs are very social creatures. When you get a dog as a pet, you need to be sure you have the time to devote to them. It's also very helpful to have a yard for the dog to play in regularly. If you're getting a dog for your child, you need to be sure your child has the personality needed for that dog too. Since the dog will want a lot of attention, playtime, and loving, the child needs to be open to that kind of relationship.

If your child is more reserved, or not quite the type to devote all their time and attention to a pet, you may want to consider a more independant type of pet for the child instead. Cats for instance, are much more independant than dogs are. They don't mind being alone for many hours usually, and they can be trained to use a kitty box, so they also don't need to be walked outside regularly.

Smaller pets such as gerbils, hamsters, or even fish are often appealing to parents – particularly when they live in small apartments – because there is very little care needed for this type of pet. Unfortunately there is also very little interaction with these types of pets and children. Because the pets don't respond much in any way to humans, the child resorts to only being able to watch the pet do things. They can't actually play with that pet usually. This ends up being boring to a child after awhile, and the feeding, cleaning, and care of the pet becomes a chore they're not always happy with too.

Pets can be a great experience for a child and a way to start teaching responsibility. However, as a parent great care should be taken when choosing a pet, since it may just very well become your responsibility if your child tires of it.

Children and Pets
You have probably heard the old saying, “A man’s best friend is his dog.” Well, not only does this hold true for man, but for a family as well. Let’s look at how having a pet can benefit your family and some tips on choosing the right one..

Do you remember when you were a child, and your parents took you to the local pound and you picked out your first pet. Or when your mom and dad brought home a little puppy dog? How did you feel? Exhilarated; excited, and when the dog licked your face and stuck out his paw; he touched your heart, didn’t he? This is no less true for families today. True, having a pet may start out as a gift for the kids who have been nagging you for months. But the truth is the pet is welcome by you and your spouse as well.

Pets give unconditional love; always. They trust you’ll take care of them at every turn, and they take care of you. After a long day at work, you come home to find your pet waiting for you at the front door; excitedly jumping up and down at your arrival. They are a comfort to kids when sick; and to the old when infirmed. Some dogs even have a sixth sense when you are ill and unaware of the problem. They can sense danger; and guard you and your family when necessary. They instinctively know when they’ve been naughty, and look to you for forgiveness. They comfort you in time of need like no other human. They can sense sadness and, when you pass, they mourn.

There are so many pets that need love and attention. Unfortunately, all too soon pets arrive at home only to find they are neglected or mistreated. How sad for the rest of us.
If you have the room and the time, why not consider adopting a pet. There are so many animals out there who will be put to sleep unless we afford them the opportunity to live in a home with a loving family. They ask nothing, but give so much.  

Tips on choosing the perfect pet:

Your kids have been begging for a pet. Is it the right time? How to choose the perfect pet for your family entails a great deal of thought and research. Here are a few tips to help you decide.

Inevitably, once you decide on a pet for your kids, it is you who winds up taking care of it. To this end, the questions you have to ask are: Do you have the time to take care of this pet? Do you have the space the pet may require? Do you have the money to care for this pet? What type of pet should I get? These are valid questions which can determine if and when you should buy a pet.

The type of pet you decide upon is determined by the age of your children. If you have small children, a puppy may be more suitable. For example: A Bijou would be more suitable for younger children as they are friendly, love children, and easy to care for. Another pet to consider is a beagle. They are wonderful house pets, and pose no problem to small children. In addition, they make superb guard dogs. A larger dog, depending on your kid’s ages, may be suitable, but research is advised.

On the other hand, you may wish to venture into buying pets of other species such as a hamster, gerbil, or cat; but research is indicated here as well, especially for the hamster and the gerbil, as they require special needs. It is never a good idea to buy or adopt a pet on a whim; make sure you understand what is involved and ensure your entire family is committed to taking care of any pet that comes into your home.

The best approach on how to choose the perfect pet for your family requires research as well as talking to other pet owners. Determine which pet would be best suited for your kids; and for you, since you may be the one taking care of it eventually. You can always take a trip to your local animal shelter, as there are plenty of homeless dogs and cats who need a loving home.

The kids have gone to bed. We had a very peaceful and beautiful Christmas day. I hope everyone else had a great Christmas too. Before going to sleep myself I was thinking of the funny things that happen with kids and animals. I remembered a video clip I found on youtube that really made me laugh. Now don't try any of this at home!! Enjoy.

You may have to click on the video twice to activate and view it.