Is My Child Ready For A Puppy?
Children and puppies seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly–but how do you know if your child is ready for a puppy?
Today’s news story involving the four year old little boy who accidentally flushed his one week old puppy down the toilet made me wonder–when is a child old enough for a puppy?
Click here for the news story and video.
Naturally, our first concern should be for the safety of our children before bringing a new puppy into the home. A rambunctious playful puppy can accidentally knock a toddler off his feet or scratch or “nibble” him with no ill intent.
But we must also take into account the puppy’s safety when deciding whether or not it’s time to bring your child’s new “best friend” home.
The four year old little boy in this news story certainly didn’t mean to hurt his puppy–he was just trying to give him a bath. Nevertheless, this little puppy was VERY lucky to survive the ordeal, thanks to a compassionate and skilled plumber!
When asking yourself, “Is my child ready for a puppy?”–here are a few things to consider:
- What is your child’s temperament? Does he have a gentle or rambunctious and lively personality at his present age?
- What is the maturity level of your child?
- Is your child able to learn to distinguish between a living, breathing animal and his stuffed toys in terms of how to handle each?
- Are you available to constantly supervise your child and puppy’s interactions and play times–at least until you feel certain your child has learned how to appropriately handle and play with the puppy?
As they say, “Timing is everything!” And these are just a few things to consider when deciding the best time to bring your child’s new “furry friend” home.
