How to Teach Pet Responsibility: Children & Pets

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By pepper0617
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Love your Pet

Kids always want pet, all they think about is playing and loving your pet. Pets become your children and are dependent on you for their needs. Pet adoption is a commitment and they need you for their love and care. Children have to learn that their pets need to be taken care of just like mom takes care of them. Having a pet gives them pet responsibility as it depends on you for their care. It is one of the first things children can learn about being responsible and caring for something besides their selves.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Teach children to feed their pet making sure there is food in their bowl and clean water daily. Provide good nutrition and diet for your pet. Teach kids about not giving candy to pets as it can really make them sick. Make sure your pet's feeding bowls, and sleeping area is always clean. Teach kids how to brush their pet’s hair, and keep them groomed. Take pets to a pet groomer occasionally. Take your pet for pet obedience classes to learn social skills, basic pet commands like "come," "sit," and "stay." Have pet toys available for play.
Step 2

Pets need companionship they need to be with the family, and played with not locked in the back yard alone. Try not to get a dog that is too big or excitable for the kids. Its best to have a pet grow up with the kids. It is not good to chain an animal up for long periods of time. Take your pet on walks with you and the kids. Make sure you have a fenced yard for them to run and play in.
Step 3

Be Leery of bad weather. Let your pet inside when it is cold and wet outside. Make sure there is a dry place outside for them to sleep or a doghouse if they are an outside animal. Some animals are afraid of strange sounds, or thunder. My dog howls when there is a storm and get scared until I bring her inside then she wags her tail and lies down. If you have a small dog, have a pet bed for them to lie in. Especially older dogs with arthritis appreciate an orthopedic dog bed.
Step 4

Teach your children early about safety. Pet safe your home, some plants are poisonous, detergents, cleaners, and medications could become deadly to your pet, as well as insecticides you use in the garden or house. Use judgment, your family would be sad if something happened to your pet due to carelessness.
Step 5

Make sure your pet has an id tag in case they are lost;consider a pet id microchip. Make sure they have all their pet vaccinations, and update them as needed; get them a low-cost pet vaccination.