For children, in general, receiving a pet dog is one of the greatest joys. Taking care of him from a puppy and accompanying his growth is, in itself, an experience of love that they never forget.
But as the dog grows, apart from games and affection, different aspects and care that the companion of the house needs for its well-being begin to come into play: from brushing it to taking it for a walk, feeding it, bathing it and respecting visits to the vet.
Therefore, apart from the special sentimental bond that children create with their dog, it is also a great opportunity to encourage them to take responsibility for their care. In this note, how to encourage responsibility in children through caring for a dog.
Having a dog in the family is an excellent opportunity to encourage responsibility in children. Some tips to achieve this are:
1. Assign specific tasks, appropriate to the age of each child. It is important that they know exactly what task they must complete and at what time of day it must be done. The instructions must be clear, easy and precise. It can be something simple like feeding it, something that involves more effort, like brushing it, or something related to the pet like cleaning its resting area or its food and water bowls.
2. Establish schedules and routines. Dogs need a routine and children must learn to follow it. Establish schedules for feeding, walks and play time. This will help children understand the importance of following a schedule and consistency in caring for an animal.
Assign children specific tasks, appropriate to their age. It is important that they know exactly what task they must complete and at what time of day it must be done.
3. Encourage the training or domestication of the dog. Children can be very skilled at teaching dogs tricks or behavior patterns. These can be basic commands like “sit,” “paw,” and “still.” This not only promotes the dog’s education, but also helps children develop social and emotional skills.
4. Task table. If the children already know how to read, you can make a table of shared tasks where what corresponds to each one appears. These tasks can always be the same or they can alternate week by week. Beyond the relationship with the animal, they are exercises that help them mature and take responsibility for the care of another living being.
5. Establish consequences. If children do not fulfill their responsibilities, it is important that there are consequences. For example, if a child forgets to walk the dog, he may have to do it later, instead of what she had planned. This will teach them the importance of completing their assigned tasks.
Having a dog can be a great opportunity to foster responsibility first, but also love, respect and care, in children. Photo illustration: Shutterstock.
6. The forbidden. Part of the responsibility of caring for an animal is also knowing what NOT to do with it. At this point basic aspects come into play such as not mistreating him, not hitting him, not bothering him while he eats, not pulling his hair or tail, not bothering him when he rests, etc. Everything basic to avoid generating a violent reaction from the animal. This is also a way to teach them respect towards the dog and, consequently, towards another living being.
In short, having a dog can be a great opportunity to foster responsibility first, but also love, respect and care, in children. And always remember that all activities and interactions between dogs and children must be supervised by an adult.
