Why Your Child Should Have a Dog

Children Can Learn Many Life Lessons from Their Dog!

At some point almost every a parent hears the plaintive cry, "Can I have a dog?" Children naturally love animals and want a pet, and there are some wonderful lessons to be learned from having a dog.

For the child a dog is a built-in playmate there for the pure pleasure of having fun. When children play together it often turns into an argument over the rules, accusations of unfairness, hurt feelings and mock fighting that sometimes turns into the real thing. Those things never happen when your child is playing with a dog. The dog is just thrilled to have the child's attention; he doesn't care what game it is. Whether they are playing ball, fetching a stick, or just lying in the grass together, they are comfortable and secure in each other's company.

A dog can be your child's soul mate; a caring being he can turn to when he's upset and unhappy and needs an outlet for pent-up emotions. The dog comforts the child with his presence and unconditional love. Too often well-meaning parents offer advice when all a child really needs is love and consolation. He can tell all his problems to his dog without fear of criticism and being told that he is wrong to feel the way he does. Kids think that their parents don't understand them (even though we've all been children ourselves this is a foreign concept to a child) but Sparkey knows just exactly what they're feeling.

A child can learn responsibility from owning a dog. If all parents waited to get their child a dog until they thought he was responsible enough no kids would have dogs! The parent must realize that they will be the primary caretaker of the dog but should encourage the child to help with the daily care. Depending on your child's age they may be able to fill the food and water bowls, take Fido for his walk, or give him his bath. Your child can learn to nurture and care for another living being just as you care for his basic needs. Don't make the mistake of telling your child he can have a dog if he takes care of it and then find it another home when he doesn't. This is expecting too much of a child and is unfair to both the child and the dog.