When Kids Should Get Puppies

               
Children –and adults, for that matter—are naturally drawn to puppies.  What is not to love?  They are cute, soft, fuzzy and affectionate.  They love to be cuddled and nuzzled, and they bring out our soft side.  A family can get many benefits out of owning a puppy.  They are wonderful stress relievers for the parents and great companions for the kids.  When fully grown into a dog, your puppy can help protect all family members from trespassers and criminal elements by acting as a deterrent.  However, before rushing out to buy a puppy for your kids as a Christmas gift this year, read this article to help you decide if your family is indeed ready for one.

Puppies are living creatures with special needs.  Unlike toys and gadgets that you can simply leave lying around, puppies need to be taken care of on a regular basis.  Feeding, walking, bathing and grooming are main concerns when you have a family dog. While the vessel sink in the kitchen may be fine for puppy baths, it won’t do once he’s grown.

If you have an adult willing to take absolute responsibility for all aspects of dog care, no further discussion is required.  However, this situation is very rare since most parents will need assistance from the kids every now and then.  As such, you should realistically assess what you could expect from your kids in terms of their age and capabilities.  It would be unreasonable to expect a preschool child to walk the dog every day.  At the same time, a high school teenager in school for most of the day cannot be expected to take care of all feedings himself.  Ideally, the whole family should openly discuss the division of labor way before actually getting a puppy.  Parents should not imply that getting a puppy is a sure deal unless all family members have made a firm commitment on the duties and responsibilities that they can take on.

All family members should also make an effort to know as much as possible about the particular breed of dog that is going to be adopted.  While most rules of dog care can be generally applied across the board, different breeds have some requirements that are unique to them.  For example, when beagles are fed a low-fat diet, they tend to exude a certain odor;  meanwhile, long-haired varieties such as shitzus need to be brushed and groomed regularly unless you want them to wreak havoc with your plumbing.

Puppies grow up into loyal and loving family companions.  Dogs are among the best pets a family can have.  Families should seriously consider whether they can provide a good home for a puppy and the dog it would later become before even thinking of getting one.