Pet Tips: Buying your Child a Dog

Make sure kid, puppy and parents are prepared for the years to come. Advice for teaching responsibility, training and other lessons.

If you have a child, chances are you have (or will) hear the heartfelt plea for a pet. Who of us doesn't melt at the very idea of cuddling up with a warm puppy or a soft kitten's serene purring? It's an almost irresistible picture, and when the Christmas season rolls around, the image of a child's face upon finding their very own pet from Santa can overwhelm the Scrooge in all of us. But before you pick out a name and hand over the credit card, take a step back and give some serious thought to the weeks, months and years that will follow Christmas morning.

A pet is one of the most rewarding and educational relationships a child or an adult can experience. But pets are not toys or hobbies that can be tossed aside until you are in the mood. They cannot be shoved into a vacant slot in the garage when the novelty wears off. We don't live in an animated world where keeping 101 Dalmatians is feasible. It's a nice story and it is certainly understandable that children will cling to the loving notion of rescuing a plethora of precious spotted pups. But as adults, we must think beyond the rolling of the credits. We are stuck with the task of taking charge of reality, and the reality is that a pet requires a lifelong commitment.

Before purchasing a pet or adopting one from a rescue or shelter, do your homework. Would you purchase a car without comparing the issues important to your needs and expectations? Would you select a spouse on a whim? Of course not. These types of commitments and/or relationships require your utmost attention, and the same goes for committing yourself as a pet owner.

Make a list of responsibilities and necessary expenses associated with acquiring a pet. One of the most important considerations should be veterinary expense. Aside from shots and worming, many dogs and cats can have congenital illnesses or allergies that are not evident at the time you acquired him/her. Such can require very expensive treatments, sometimes for the life of the pet. Making sure any animal you are considering has been thoroughly examined and given a clean bill of health by a veterinarian beforehand is essential. Any reputable breeder or shelter will be glad to provide this information for you. If you're planning to get a cat and want it de-clawed, be aware of this expense. Also, everyone should include spaying and neutering into this category.

Make sure in your mind as well as your heart that your child is ready for the long term obligation to a pet. A very young child most often does not and cannot truly understand beyond short term gratification. Are you prepared to pick up the slack when and if Sally suddenly losses interest in Spot? Take your child for several visits to a friend or relative who owns a pet. Allow him or her to spend time with the pet and to perform some of the necessary functions of a pet owner, such as feeding and watering, letting the animal outside when needed or walking on a leash, and brushing the pet. As a precaution, keep the pet owner nearby so the pet will feel at ease and your child can get instruction for the tasks. If the child is quickly bored, chances are pretty good that he/she would tire of the daily demands of a pet.

While it may seem that this is an effort to discourage you from becoming a pet owner, to the contrary, it is an attempt to encourage you to adequately prepare yourself and your child should you decide to embark on the wonderful commitment to another living being. Shelters are overflowing with "gifts" that lost their appeal. For the sake of the animal and your child, think it through and make an informed decision. Your family and the animal will be better for it.