6 Tips to consider before you adopt a pet when you have a child at home

I have always loved dogs, but our dogs Coco and Magic joined the pack only a few years back. In fact my parents, who are now pet parents themselves, never had a pet before they adopted Zoey. The reason was simple; pets are a big responsibility, and one needs to be well prepared as a family to commit the time and effort required to ensure that everyone is happy at home.

While there is no denying that pets are fun, and there are numerous studies highlighting how pets can make a positive impact on a child’s life, there are also definite considerations to keep in mind before one gets a pet home.

Children and Pets: Here are 6 things to keep in mind before you bring hope a pet.

Do the homework

Educate yourself. Read a lot about what other pet parents who have a child at home have to say. Watch videos about pet parenting to know how it is and what it entails over and above all the fun or cute moments that social media is full of. As a parent, the onus of helping and educating your child to understand the new responsibilities of getting a pet falls on you. Speak with them and make them understand the new responsibilities that come with adopting a pet. Most children are overjoyed when they hear that they will get a pet, but it is crucial that you sit them down and explain how raising a pet will require lots of patience and kindness. A good idea is to take your child to visit a local shelter or a friend’s home and gauge their behavior around animals.

Get a plan in order

It is a good idea to ensure prior engagement between pets like dogs and cats, and children. The more comfortable your child is around a pet, the more are their chances of participating in taking care of them. As part of the plan, it is important for you to discuss how animals communicate. Make them understand the routine of a pet, for example feeding time, walk time, play time. Also teach them that since a pet cannot clean up on their own, the responsibility falls on the family to do that job as well. It would be good to explain everything in detail and then ask them to choose one or more of these responsibilities.

Understand a dog’s body language

There aren’t enough ways to emphasize on the fact that as a parent, and as a pet parent, it is your responsibility to do your research about a pet’s body language and what it signifies. Take a professional’s help if needed. But once you understand this aspect, you will have to sit with your child and teach them how to identify different body language signs. There is enough material available online in form of videos, infographics and photographs to help you understand how dogs express themselves. For example, a dog that wants to be petted will have his ears back and down. Or if they are in a comfortable mood, you would notice their eyes are softer and their eyelids are relaxed, almost as if they are squinting.

Remember, pets have feelings too

While you are discussing canine communication, it is essential to highlight the fact that pets have feelings too. While they might be different from humans, dogs can become sad or feel hurt too, and it is critical to sensitize children towards that. Teaching your child about the pet's body language and what not to do to cause the pet to feel uncomfortable will help your child form a stronger bond with the pet. An example is to approach the dog calmly. Children often get excited and squeal on the sight of a pet, but that is not comfortable for all dogs. Some dogs who have been abused or come from an environment where loud sounds are disturbing, might get nervous or confused in such a situation.

Choose the right pet

Once you have established the ground for getting a pet home, you need to ensure participation. While there are many ways of pet ownership, I personally favor adoption. Adopting a dog is a chance of saving a life, it’s also an act of kindness you’d want your child to participate in. Also, since getting a pet is a family decision, it could also give an opportunity to your child to decide on a pet they feel most connected with. You could fix an appointment with a local shelter, and meet the dogs that they have as per the requirements of your family. This also gives your family and you to spend time with the animals in a neutral location before deciding which one to get home. Many families even try fostering a pet to see if their child actually handles the responsibility, which they have initially agreed upon. Moreover, this will also give you an understanding of the pet’s comfort level with your setup at home. I personally feel this is the best way to go about it.

Kindness and understanding

Last but not the least, you must speak with your child about kindness. It is important for you to explain to them why they need to be kind and show compassion towards the pet you are getting. While most children are compassionate, they can sometimes find it difficult to communicate with pets, especially if they have not been around them. That is why it is important to emphasize kindness and make them understand that a pet is a pet for life.

To summarize, getting a dog will change your and your children’s world forever. If you are willing to work together as a family and invest the money, time and effort required in managing and maintaining a pet, you will be amazed at the joy they would bring to your life. And how they teach your child the value of patience, kindness, compassion and responsibilities. Your children will find their own way of interacting and understanding the pet; but till they do, it is your responsibility to ensure discipline and clear means of communications.

Sakshi Bawa is the Founder of Mutt Of Course. The views expressed are the author's own.