When is the Right
Time to Get a Dog?
by Marilyn
Mackenzie
Have you ever seen a
toddler running around holding a puppy by the neck, and grinning?
Usually, the puppy is not as happy as the baby. While having pets is
a great learning experience for a child, it has to be safe for the
child and for the pet. So when is the right time to get a dog?
Deciding when to get
a dog is not an easy decision. Nor is it one that is the same in
every household.
For the young
newlywed couple wanting to get a dog, there are many things to
consider.
1) Will the couple
have a child in the next year or two? If so, they should select a
dog breed that is calm under pressure.
2) Will the couple
wait three or four years to have a child? If so, the dog they select
now should be one that will not exhibit jealous behavior when a
child does enter the home and the family.
For a dog already
established as part of the family, the animal needs to know that it
is still loved and cherished is important once a new squirming baby
arrives on the scene. If long walks were a routine before the baby
arrived, maintaining that routine will be important. How one
accomplishes that is a personal preference. There might be times
when it makes sense to take the baby in a stroller, while walking
the dog on a leash. At other times, it might be important for the
dog to have its own walking or running time with one of its owners.
The dog certainly will not be comfortable with a crying baby in the
house if it is completely ignored once the new baby arrives.
Some people think it
is a wonderful idea to have a new baby and a new puppy in the house
at the same time so they can grow up together. But training a puppy
takes time, and the baby's schedule may not always mesh with the
schedule of the young puppy. In no time, the baby will be crawling
on the floor, and the growing puppy will want to romp and play.
Watching both of them might prove to be a daunting task.
Is it a good time to
get a puppy when the baby is walking? Perhaps not. That is when we
find junior carrying a whimpering puppy around by the neck. Again,
each one deserves love and care. Each one needs special attention.
Acquiring a mellow older dog might work. It might not think that
having its hair pulled is an invitation to jump and play.
Dogs make an
excellent addition to any home, but knowing when is the right time
for that addition is a tricky decision. Depending upon the
disposition and personality of the child, it might make more sense
to forego getting a dog until the child is old enough to understand
that it is a living, breathing, caring creature.
Adding a dog to the
family after a child is in preschool or elementary is often a great
choice in timing. Even so, a young child should never be given sole
responsibility for caring for the family pet. Most kids are not
capable or mature enough to be being fully responsible for another
living being until they are about ten years old. Even then, being
called to play might take preference over feeding or walking their
charge.
No matter what
decision your family makes in the timing for acquiring a new canine
family member, the selection process should include extensive
research into the breed or breeds that make sense for your
particular family. Certain breeds are known for being more family
and kid friendly. One should never allow emotions and being
overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals at the local shelter be
the deciding factors in the selection of a family dog.
About the Author
Marilyn Mackenzie has
been writing about home, family, faith and nature for over 40 years.
This article has been submitted in affiliation with
http://www.PetLovers.Com/
which is a site for Pets.
