The WM Parenting Connection

Image via WikipediaBy Alisa Gilbert

It never fails that at some point, your children will become fixated on puppies. They'll beg you for a puppy of their own that they can play with. They'll want to run and play in dog parks with the other dogs. They'll want to cuddle and pet every puppy dog they see. And they'll get jealous of other children who boast of their own puppy dogs. After a while, you might begin to consider having a dog a good thing for your children and for your own sanity. However, before you make a decision, here are a few things to ask yourself to figure out if having a puppy is right for your family.

How Do Your Children Interact With Dogs?

The first question you need to answer is how do your children interact with dogs? The best way to get them to feel what it's like to have a dog is to ask your dog-owning friends if they wouldn't mind introducing their dogs to your children. If this isn't an option, then the second best thing you can do is find your local dog park. Take your children to the park so they can watch the dogs playing; however, you should not let your children into the park, because a dog could easily knock them over in play. Instead, let your children pick out a dog they would like to meet, and then you should ask the owner if he or she would be willing to introduce the dog to your children. Teach your children to always ask for permission to pet a dog. If your children respond well to many different dogs for some time, then that's a good sign.

Can Your Family Take Care of A Dog?

Though your children may say the puppy is theirs, we all know you'll be the one taking care of it. Make sure you're willing to do this in addition to all of your other responsibilities as a parent. If you can't, then it's probably best not to get a dog. If you feel like you can, then you should also make an agreement with your children that they'll do their part as well. As long as they have some sort of responsibility in the endeavor, than you can help them see that having a puppy is more than just cuddling and playtime. If you can turn the raising of a puppy into a team effort, then you'll be able to get through the tougher aspects of house-training and late-night barking.

Do You Want A Puppy Or an Older Dog?

Each kind of dog, whether it's older or younger, will bring with it its own share of advantages and disadvantages that you'll want to keep in mind. A puppy will take quite a lot of care, especially when it is very young, so you'll have your hands full. But you also have the advantage of training it with habits particular to your family's needs. A grown dog will often be trained and probably won't be as much trouble, but you'll have missed out on the chance to create a strong bond between it and your children. So think about what's best for your family. Don't hesitate to do further research! After all, once you have a dog, you should welcome him or her into your family as you would another child. You want to get it right the first time.

*This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alisagilbert599@gmail.com.

Guest Post: So Your Children Want a Puppy?