How To Teach Children To Be Responsible For Their Pet

"To educate our people, and especially our children, to humane attitudes and actions toward living things is to preserve and strengthen our national heritage and the moral values we champion in the world." - John F. Kennedy

Having pets is a very good way to help teach our children about responsibilities and the devotion it requires to care for living things. If they are good pet owners, chances are they will make responsible adults and even caring parents. We have discussed "The Link", which is the relationship between children who are cruel to pets and a later life as violent adults. While no studies are really possible, it makes sense to assume that the opposite is true as well. Caring for pets at a young age certainly must be a good indicator of good parenting skills to come.

So how can we teach our children to be responsible pet owners? Certainly no easy answer exists. But let me start with this premise:

Do not have unreasonable expectations. Kids are still kids. They can only absorb so much in the course of their busy days. That is why when parents ask me what type of pet they should get, I always ask them what type of pet THEY want, not their children. Ultimately the parents are the ones left with the majority of the responsibility for the pets. Do not get a dog for the kids if you would rather have a cat. Don't get a puppy if you, as the parent, do not have the time for it. To teach your children to be responsible pet owners, you have to be one yourself. I think most parents make two mistakes: they underestimate how much work some pets can be (such as a young puppy) and they over-estimate how much work others in the family will do in regards to the new pet (this seems to happen a lot with moms and dads, too. Many a mom comes into my office complaining about dad. Good thing psychology was my minor in college!).

With your children it obviously depends on their age, but start simple. Here is a list of things to have the children learn early on when you acquire a puppy or kitten:

- Have them pick up all small items that the animal can potentially swallow. This makes a nice excuse to keep the house cleaner.
- Put them in charge of being sure there is fresh, clean water at all times.
- At feeding time, show them how you measure the food and allow them to place the food in the bowl. You can even have them start a chart of how the puppy or kitten is eating.
- With puppies have your kids participate with you in the walking and housebreaking. But do this as a team, don't send them on their own. For the kittens, have them assist you in changing or cleaning the litter box.
- Have them escort you to the veterinarian's office for check-ups. This is a time they really get a feel for the seriousness of their job (if your veterinarian does not seem to like you bringing the children, find another veterinarian!)

If you start with these basic steps and can master them, you are doing great. To expect much more in the beginning would be too ambitious. If the children are older (ten and above), you can then start to put them in charge of the following:

- Changing or scooping the litter boxes.
- Actually measuring out the food and being totally responsible for the feedings.
- Walking the pet, even by themselves.
- Doing "poop patrol" of the yard.

Remember, you are the role models. You cannot tell the kids to do these things because you are lazy and do not want to do them yourselves. You have to be committed to doing them because these are living creatures that you are responsible for. Have the right attitude and your children will hopefully pick up on this and follow suit.

So in summary, pick small goals that are achievable. Help show the kids how to succeed and when they have done that, you can move on to the next goal.

Good luck and remember if you have any problems or questions, feel free to email me at drlarry@drlarrypetvet.com

As always, I'm happy to help your pets...and their people too.

Dr. Larry