There are many reasons why a family might decide to add a dog to their family. For one thing, they can be a lovable and caring pet. Your kid is bound to love them, and it can often be a great friend for your little one. Not only this but a dog can teach your child about responsibility. After all, they will learn about how important it is to take care of the pet. And the furry member of the family can help to ensure your kid gets enough exercise in their life. However, if you do decide to get a dog, you need to make sure that they can live harmoniously with your child. After all, you don’t want your child’s health to be at risk due to the pet. Therefore, here are some easy ways to ensure your child stays safe and healthy when adding a dog to your family.
Pick a dog that loves children
Before you go to choose any dog to add to your family, you need to do some research. That way, you can learn more about different breeds before you choose a pooch. After all, you want a dog who is going to blend well with your family. You don’t want to pick one which doesn’t like to live with kids. Otherwise, it could lead to your child to come to harm if the dog gets scared at your property. Therefore, make sure you read up about family friendly breeds before you go to the shelter, or to find a puppy for your family. That way, you will be clued up and make the right decision for your family’s future.
Teach your child to play nice with the pooch
It’s also vital that you make sure your child is nice to the pooch. It can be a challenge, especially if your child is young, to teach them to not be rough with the pet. After all, they might not realize they are annoying the pet by constantly pulling at its ears and fur. And while some dogs will be tolerant, it might cause them to bite in the end. So teach your child the best way to pet the dog. By showing them, they will hopefully follow your lead and be careful around the dog. And make sure you tell them off if they keep being too rough, so they know not to do it in future.
Don’t leave the pair alone at the beginning
Although your pooch and child might be best friends, it might potentially not happen straight away. After all, the pair might be nervous of each other at the beginning. And it could cause your new dog to lash out, putting your child’s health in jeopardy. Therefore, you need to be careful that the pair are not left alone at the beginning. Stay in close quarters while they play, and if you notice the dog is becoming scared, move your child away. You can build up the time they spend together, and they will soon become good friends.
Ensure they sleep separately at night
As much as your child might love to share the bed with their favorite pooch at night, it’s a good idea if they sleep in separate areas. For one thing, if your child suffers from allergies, they could potentially wake up with breathing issues if they are situated so close to the animal. And if your dog has picked up any bugs during the day in its fur, these could be passed on to your child. Therefore, give the pooch an area to sleep downstairs where they will be comfortable. And ensure your child’s bedroom door stays closed so that the dog can’t get in the room during the night!
Keep your dog well groomed
It’s also important to make sure that you groom your dog regularly. As you will know if you have kept dogs before, their fur gets everywhere. And if your child suffers from asthma, they will find their condition will worsen with all the fur around. Therefore, it’s important that your brush your dog’s hair regularly to get rid of any knots and old dead hair. Also, if you have little time to groom your dog, you could consider sending them to a groomers regularly. They will bathe and cut your dog’s fur so that it stays in good condition. And remember to keep your floor hoovered so that you can get rid of any dog fur laying around. You can even get hoovers which are designed to remove pet hair quickly.
Ensure the pooch goes for regular treatment
It’s common for dogs to pick up fleas and ticks during the year, especially in the summer months. And as pet owners know, it can be a nightmare to get rid of them once they arrive. And while the pests can irritate your dog, they could also bite your family’s skin too. And if this gets infected, your little one might need to see the doctor. To avoid this occurring, you should get some flea preventives such as the k9 advantix ii. You put this on your beloved pet every month to keep the fleas away. That way, your pet can happily be around your family without you having to worry about the pests.
Teach your dog good behavior skills
It’s important that you are strict with your dog about behavior at the very beginning. After all, if you implement some rules at the start, it can ensure your dog has good behavior in the home. And it will ensure your child stays safe and happy when they are around the pooch. If you need some extra help, you could consider taking your dog to some classes. That way, the expert will teach your dog better behavior, so that it’s good when it’s at home. And remember as long as you ensure your pooch has enough exercise and attention in its life, you should have a calm and loving dog who is a pleasure to be around.
And you need to ensure your pooch eats a proper diet so that it’s not hungry in the home. After all, it could potentially eat your belongings and even try and bite one of your family’s members if it’s starving. Therefore, ensure your pooch gets fed regularly to ensure you have a great doggy as part of the family. If you do have issues with your dog while you’re away, a large dog crate may be a reasonable option.
