The Top 5 Ways to Know if Your Child Should Get a Puppy

Most kids beg their parents for a puppy at some point. But when is the right time to buy your kid a puppy? After all, puppies are a major responsibility. Since parents need to work and kids must go to school, there isn't much time to care for puppies. Plus, kids might have extracurricular activities after school as well. Puppies need a lot of love and attention throughout the day. If no one is around to give them this, it will be difficult for your pet. Therefore, the decision to get a puppy is a big one. To help you make this decision, below are the top 5 ways to know if it is the right time to purchase a puppy for your child. 1) A Family Decision Has Been Made Before you purchase a puppy, your family must all come to an agreement together. The puppy will ultimately affect everyone's life in the family because each person will have to contribute toward the dog's care to some extent. Therefore, talk to your family about the responsibilities of dog ownership and make sure your kids understand what they'll need to contribute as well. The family must understand that puppies need love, cleanings, walks, and food on a regular basis. When you are ready to purchase a puppy, have your family visit the local pet store or shelter. Allow your children some time to mingle with the puppies in the store and see which ones they like. If you have questions about what it takes to own a pet, ask the employees there. 2) Your Kids Seem Interested in Puppies and Animals Kids learn more about the world as they get older. They start to develop empathy for other people and animals who are in less fortunate situations. It will get to a point where kids want to protect animals and keep them healthy. Once kids reach this point, they will be interested in owning a pet themselves. First, they need to learn about the responsibilities of pet ownership which include bathing, feeding, and walking the dog. 3) Your Kids Have Friends Who Have Pets Your kids might have friends at school or in the same neighborhood who have pets themselves. This might have gotten your kids interested in pets as well as some experience being around them. Kids learn best by relating to their friends and sharing a common interest. Let pet ownership be that interest. 4) Get Kids Away from Technology Technology has its advantages when it comes to communication. Unfortunately, the children of today are practically being raised on computers, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other electronic gizmos. This causes them to live a sedentary life where they don't socialize with people. So, by getting them a dog, it encourages them to put down their gadgets and spend more time outside running around with their pet. 5) Your Kids Are Doing Well in School A puppy is a great way to reward your kids for doing well in school. You could give your kids an incentive to get good grades in exchange for getting a puppy. Either that or you can take them to a pet store and let them mingle with the many different puppies there.