Is My Child Ready?

West Wind Dog Training
www.WestWindDogTraining.com

The Safe Kids/Safe Dogs Project
www.SafeKidsSafeDogs.com

Association of Pet Dog Trainers member
AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator
Member of the United Shetland Sheepdog Assoc
Member of the Blue Ridge Shetland Sheepdog Club
Volunteer Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue

This week I was interviewed by Nancy Jackson who was on assignment for Home Life Magazine.

One of the questions was: "How can a parent know if his or her child is ready for a pet?"
"A child is ready for a pet when the parent is willing to accept full responsibility for the animal when the child loses interest, goes away to college, whatever. Very rare is the child that will take 100% responsibility for a pet. I was at a rescue recently and there were over ten guinea pigs there for adoption. On all the cages read the same thing: "REASON FOR SURRENDER: Child Lost Interest." There were also several hamsters, a couple rabbits, etc that had "Child Lost Interest" as reason for surrender. When a parent is ready to commit fully to a pet, then the child is ready to get one.

As a dog trainer, I do not recommend the average family get a dog if they have infants or toddlers. I recommend if you have a child and want a dog, wait until the child is closer to kindergarten age and also is developing empathy and is less selfish. Also, a child needs to be able to learn basic safety regardless of any pet. The younger the child, the more work a parent has to devote to her child (and I speak as a mother of two young children) and the less attention the animal gets. But if a child wants a pet, the parents have to assume full responsibility. Thousands of animals of various species end up being given up and euthanized when homes cannot be found for them all because the child lost interest and the parent was not going to care for the pet." Sadly she was pressed for time (has to have all her responses from people in by early next week) and I did not want to overwhelm her - but give a basic answer. But in the interviews I have done (about a half dozen including twice on radio), this is the first time I have been asked this. Generally I get some thing like "What is the best pet for a child?"