How Kids Benefit From a Dog at Home

Whether you are looking into getting a purebred puppy from a responsible dog breeder or want to give a rescue dog a forever home, there’s no denying that getting a dog is a dream come true for many families. Not only will your dog become your best friend and protector, but they are also wonderful for teaching you things about life that you might not have realised. At the end of a long, tough day, your dog will always be there for you to love you and cheer you up. When you have children, getting a family dog can have a huge number of benefits and advantages for them as they grow up. 

Kindness and Empathy:

Getting a family dog means that you will need to teach your children how to interact with them from a young age. They will quickly learn to empathise with their dog and notice how their body language changes in a range of situations. Just like humans, they will learn that dogs can feel tired, scared, excited, happy, sad, or angry, and your children can learn a lot from your dog about expressing their feelings and considering the feelings of others. 

Responsibility:

Getting a family dog can be a great way to give your children a sense of responsibility and teach them from a young age that sometimes, we have to do jobs that we don’t particularly enjoy, from poop picking to getting up early to make sure that their dog is fed and walked. 

Nutrition:

When your children have a dog to look after, this can teach them a lot about health and nutrition as they make the right food choices for their dog – and themselves. Giving a dog a healthy diet is the responsibility of the pet parent and it’s a great opportunity to speak to your kids about the importance of eating a diet that is rich in nutrients and how what we eat affects many different aspects of our lives. Raw dog food for puppies from Bella & Duke is an ideal option for your new family pup since it contains all the nutrients that they need to get the best start in life and support healthy growth and development. And since the raw dog food for puppies from Bella & Duke comes in pre-prepared meals that are ready for your dog to eat, they’re easy for little ones to feed. 

Health:

Getting a dog means that your children will need to make sure that their pet is healthy and cared for. It’s a great chance to speak to them about why it’s important for them to take their dog to the vet, and why vaccinations are important for both dogs and humans. Taking your puppy for his first set of vaccinations is a great chance to speak to your kids about the vaccinations that they need and why it’s so important to be protected from diseases. 

Hygiene:

Getting a dog can also be a good way to teach your children more about being clean and hygienic. Dogs can make a lot of mess, so having a dog at home will often mean more cleaning and housework for everybody in the family. This is especially true if you get a puppy since puppies can often be more prone to accidents in the home. It’s important to teach your kids about the importance of cleaning up after your dog straight away and can be a great way to introduce them to helping out with more household chores and set them up with great skills for life. In addition to cleaning the house when you have a dog, your kids can also learn more about the importance of keeping your dog well-groomed, whether that involves taking them to a groomer or doing it yourself at home. Giving your dog a bath, brushing their fur, and clipping their nails should be an important part of your family routine. 

Friendship:

Last but not least, anybody who has a dog at home will know that love and friendship are the biggest gifts that they will give to you. If you have a dog, you know that you are always going to be your dog’s very best friend. When children grow up with a dog in their home, it will not only teach them several things about responsibility and treating others, but it also ensures that they have a supportive and loving friend who is always there for them. When your kids are feeling sad, tired, or irritable, their dog will always be by their side and ready to cheer them up. Having a dog who’s so happy to see them arrive home at the end of the day can be a huge confidence and self-esteem boost for any child. 

Getting a family dog is a huge step in life, but there are many benefits of growing up around a dog that is definitely worth considering for your children.