Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
Many families get to a stage where they would like to add to them, but not in the way of siblings or more children, and more in the way of fury companions. Children can often be the ones that make the suggestions first. Hearing about friends with pets, or taking more of an interest. But, a dog isn’t always going to be right for every family. Here are some of the things to think about if you are thinking of getting a pet dog.
Image source – Pixabay – CC0 License
What does the dog need?
One of the first things that you need to think about when it comes to a dog is working out exactly what they need. There will be a few essentials that you will need to consider, such as where they will sleep or rest at night. This is when looking for dog beds online will give you a good idea of what is available and out there. You also need to think about dog food, adding this to the weekly budget and also other essentials they may need such as precautionary medicine for things like fleas and worms and also those vet visits for vaccinations.
Delegating jobs to the whole family
However, once you do get organised with the dog, don’t feel like everything should fall for to you when it comes to taking care of it. You can delegate many jobs to children, and other members of the family and it can be a great way to give them some involvement. Someone might be in charge of ensuring the dog always has water, one person may need to feed the dog, and others may take it in turns to walk them. Delegating jobs from the start means there is a level of expectation, and often avoids everything being left for you to do and organise.
Regular walking could transform the family lifestyle
Any dog will need regular walks, but there are some breeds that will require more walks or longer levels of activity than others. This is something that you should take into account when you are considering what sort of dog will be right for your family. However, one thing to think about is how this pet could transform your family lifestyle. Having a dog that needs walking everyday means that you are all encouraged to get out of the house at least once a day and do it. Increasing your level of activity, perhaps even pushing yourselves on weekends when you have more time to enjoy it. It could become the perfect family activity that you all enjoy.
Teaches children about empathy and responsibility
Finally, getting a dog can be especially good for children as it teaches them two main things, empathy and responsibility. Empathising with another living thing, their feelings and how they are treated, and having the responsibility of taking care of them. It allows children to think of something else besides their own needs, and delegating them jobs can go hand in hand with this.
Let’s hope this has encouraged you to consider getting a dog for your family.
