Family pets
A family pet is a joy as well as a responsibility. Are you – and your little ones – ready for it?
Is your toddler and family ready?
Afriendly Fido fits into the “happy family” picture perfectly – but is your family ready for a pet? And while your child might be pestering you for one, is he old enough to care for it? If you do cave in to the pressure, this is what you need to know to make sure your animals and children co-exist peacefully.
SELECT YOUR PET
Dogs and cats are the most intelligent, the cuddliest, and the most responsive of the domestic animals. Dogs are playful and are also usually beside themselves with delight when they see you. Cats’ games are more restrained: they can chase a spot of light your child is shining from a torch, or a length of twine, but they won’t play fetch or chasing games. Both might snuggle up on your child’s lap, though, or even sleep in his bed, and that source of love and comfort is probably the number one reason pets creep into our hearts the way they do.
Most families opt for a dog – but that decision opens up a chain of many more choices. Do your research carefully and don’t make an impulsive decision you may regret later. Do you want a large guard dog or a small lapdog? “Consider your home environment and family activity level,” says Celia Mcculla, a canine trainer and behaviourist and owner of Happy Pack Dog Training and Behaviour Management. “If you live in a townhouse complex, a small non-barker is probably best. In a very active family who hike or run, a high-energy dog will fit in.”
Is an “SPCA special” or a thoroughbred in your future? “Intelligent dogs who’ve been bred for a specific job such as herding or hunting need an outlet for these behaviours,” says Celia. “And if you’re set on a rescue dog, remember it takes up to three months for an adopted dog to settle in and for the behaviours which may have landed the dog in a rescue to emerge.”
FULLY GROWN OR PUPPY?
Dogs need to be trained, so if you choose to get a puppy, understand that puppy socialisation classes are a must, says Celia, who stresses they are not just about preventing aggression. “Pups must be introduced to new environments, other species, and different objects. A dog who is not good with kids was probably never introduced to kids. If your pup is not having a good time at your home, you could be doing more harm than good and that is why a socialisation school headed by a behaviourist is a good place to start,” says Celia.
KNOW YOUR CHILD
Some children gravitate towards smaller children and animals, others remain offish or even scared. While you can try to nurture care for living things in your child, you shouldn’t force it before he is ready. (He may never be particularly interested in owning his own pet – and that doesn’t make him a bad person!) Quite clearly, it is also not advisable to surprise your timid tot with Tyson the Dobermann as a birthday present, as this has a high chance of ending in screams of terror (for your child) and a long and happy life on the “farm” far away (for Tyson). Some dogs are boisterous, and so are some children – while this can lead to fun wild games, “children should always be supervised around dogs,” cautions Celia. “Children’s behaviour can be reminiscent of prey animals, which can elicit the prey drive in dogs. Statistically boys are bitten more often than girls – probably because of rough play.” There are ways to keep dog and child safer, says Celia: “For example, give your dog space when he is eating and sleeping and don’t approach him then. If necessary, create space for both the child and dog at play times. A qualified behaviourist should be contacted in the case of aggression.”
DIVIDE RESPONSIBILITIES
“I’ll feed the kitten and change her litter,” promises a pleading five-yearold, with all her heart, and none of the cognitive development to understand just how permanent and relentless the fulfilment of the promise will be. “Most adults can hardly manage a pet so understand that children are not able to take on the responsibility of a pet without the active participation of the parents,” cautions Celia.
Yes, you can demand that your children help with pet care. But the younger
the child, the less they will be able to do independently. There’s no point spending your weekends cleaning out the hamster cage with resentment bubbling over inside you. Rather make a decision: you either love the hamster too, and don’t mind taking charge of his proper care, or your three-year-old must wait another year or three before she gets her pet.
Be prepared to hustle and exhort your child to get outside with the pooper scooper Every. Single. Day. However, demonstrating the love and care for a dependent living thing is a fantastic lesson to teach your little ones, so do persevere.