So the Family Wants to Choose a Dog As the New Family Pet - What You Need to Know First

We will assume there are children in the family. This time of year many choose a puppy as the new family pet. A reasonable question is then, how old should the children be when their first pet comes into the home? Some experts say 6 to 8 years old. A more common sense approach is simply that the children should be old enough, mature enough, to understand the word no. Notice your children around dogs belonging to friends and relatives. How do they relate to those dogs? If this is all positive then it will be a parental decision. Parents should remember that the child needs to be mature enough to take on the responsibility for care and feeding because if the do not, you know who will be doing it, sometimes for years.

Should you go ahead and choose a pet begin immediately teaching by example. Let the children know and understand that the pet is now a family member and should be loved and cared for, not simply played with then tossed aside when something new comes along that may be more fun.

Puppies require lots of physical attention and training. Consider how much time you as the adult can be at home then how much time you can devote to the care, feeding and training of your pet puppy. If you bring a puppy into the home an amount of training will be required. It will pay dividends year after year. You need to be at home often to do that. You will also need to do dog crate training. One expert suggests that if your family is out of the home for 8 hours or more each day, you probably should not be trying to find a pet for your family.

Will you choose a dog that will be affectionate and cuddly or will you choose a dog that will be an outdoors type? It is important to choose a breed with the nature to become the type of dog you are looking for. This requires some time and reading to make a list of outdoors active dogs or indoor cuddly smaller dogs. Do your homework. The decision to bring a pet puppy into your home is a huge decision.

What color or appearance do you want in your puppy? Many do not care but if you do, again, do your homework. The American Kennel Club does a good job defining each breed. Don't follow the leader and choose a breed that seems to be the breed of the month or whatever is popular. Do your homework.

How large do you want your puppy to be when he or she becomes a fully grown adult dog? Do you have your own home and property or do you rent? If you are a renter I suggest a smaller dog. It will be easier to find a willing landlord if you have a smaller dog.

You will want to have your children involved in caring for the family pet. It will teach them responsibility and bonding with the puppy which will make a big difference as the dog grows to adulthood. For smaller children their involvement can be as simple as selecting dog food while shopping, assisting with a shampoo or helping out when it is time to feed the puppy.

As the adult you are the key to teaching your children how to relate to and to take good care of their puppy. As soon as puppy joins you set rules for the family and especially the children regarding puppy care and individual responsibilities as well as how to treat a dog, what to do and what not to do. Take the leadership position and stay firm.

Please know that a great is a trained pet. This means crate training and hopefully obedience training. How far you go with training your dog will depend on your expectations of your pet.

Making good choices when choosing a pet can change your quality of life and provide a fun life for your pet as well. Bad choices lead to pets being let loose on the street or becoming another statistic down at the Humane Society. Make your choice a great choice for you, your pet and your family.

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