How to involve kids in dog training

OThough your kid might complain about it, taking your dog around the block and picking up after them is a very important part of dog ownership.

ften, kids can be the ones in the family asking for dog. After a while they might even wear you down! There is a lot of responsibility that comes with adding a pup to the family, responsibility that your kids might not anticipate. Having a dog is great way to teach your children about responsibility and reinforcing routine and training teaches patience in kids and dogs alike. The American Kennel Club shares the following tips to help your kids become responsible dog owners.

Teach simple commands. Commands like “down” and “sit” are a good starting point.

For “sit,” have your child hold a treat just above your dog’s nose and slowly move it back over the dog’s head. This indicates that the dog should then rock back to a sitting position. For “down,” instruct your child how to hold a treat in front of the dog’s nose, and then drop his or her hand to the ground. The dog should follow the food and drop into a laying-down position. Anytime your dog completes a command, be sure your child gives your dog the treat and plenty of praise.

Feeding time. Because your dog should be getting fed at the same time every day, it’s a great opportunity for your kid to help. Asking your kid to help feed your family dog teaches the importance of routine, whether it’s wet food, dry food or a combination of both.

Walking the dog. Though your kid might complain about it, taking your dog around the block and picking up after them is a very important part of dog ownership. Walks are a small part of the understanding that owning a dog is a big responsibility.

Using a leash. To make the walking process easier, your child can help train the dog to leash walk without tugging or biting. Have your child hold a treat or a favorite toy waist high, tell the dog “Let’s go” and start walking. The dog will focus on the toy or treat and start walking along nicely.