94% of parents agree that pet care teaches their kids how to be responsible, a recent study reveals. It’s easy to see why. Having another living, breathing creature rely on you for their every need provides a sense of purpose and teaches commitment in a way not much else can. Kids learn that their actions have a positive impact on someone else’s health and happiness when you get them involved with training and grooming for example. It’s also just as important to teach your children to treat your four-legged family member with respect, so they learn to be kind and compassionate to all living beings.
Training techniques for the whole family
Getting your children involved in the training process gives them a real sense of agency as they see firsthand how their words and actions can have a positive impact on another living being. The easiest place to start is with basic commands like “sit”, “stay”, “heel”, “paw” and so on. Learning how to give clear and calm instructions will help your kids become better communicators, but they also need to learn when to wait. Explain to your kids that sometimes your dog will need time to think about a command before they respond (or in some cases not!). It’s nearly always better to say a cue clearly once and wait. Being in a rush to repeat it over and over just makes anything you say background noise that loses its meaning. For children, this is a lesson in patience and good communication.
Training can also take place on walks and it may very well be the case that your dog likes to bark at other dogs or people when out and about. 99.12% of dogs (yep, almost all!) are estimated to have at least one behavioral issue like this. Teach your kids to remain calm and composed when this happens. Yelling and making a fuss will only stress out your dog even more but really you want to teach your dog to stay calm in the face of their stressor. Have your children use a command like “watch me” to encourage your dog to return their attention back to the family. Your kids can then reward them with a treat.
Cleaning and grooming: teaching the practical side of pet ownership
Grooming and cleaning are big parts of having a dog that can teach kids about the practical (potentially less glamorous side) of pet ownership. But luckily most children will actually enjoy brushing your pooch! You can explain to them the “why” behind the brush: it gets rid of itchy old hair and keeps the dog’s skin healthy. Also teach your kids to look for any tangles or changes in your dog’s coat as they go. This is good for your dog’s health and also develops your kids observational skills at the same time.
You can also explain to your kids that the dog’s “things” need to be kept clean to prevent germs spreading and keep your dog healthy. So show them how to wipe down muddy toys and how to put their bedding and blankets up in the washing machine. Your children will learn the chores they do everyday are important to carry on with as they help keep your dog happy and healthy.
See things from your dog’s POV
Your kids should also learn to treat your dog with respect and know what is and what isn’t acceptable behavior. Children sadly may try to climb on dogs or play with their ears/tail which isn’t kind or polite. So explain to yours that your dog is a living, breathing creature with feelings and needs not much different to theirs. This helps your child see things from your dog’s perspective. Teach them that a tucked tail or turning their head as they yawn or lick their lips all mean your dog’s unhappy. Your child will soon learn that the best way to earn your dog’s trust is to respect their personal space and treat them with kindness.
Dogs can be a great way to teach children how to be responsible for another living being. Get your children involved in simple routines and you’ll help them develop into thoughtful and empathetic adults.
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