Children and pets seem to go hand and hand, many feel. In fact, many people get pets because of their children. But it is not always the best combination, even thou it often works out well. This is just some things to think about on the subject before you, or someone you know, jumps off the cliff of responsibility and brings home something cute.
Examine why you want children and pets. Both are a huge amount of work. Are you getting the dog for your child? And if so, why? You are the one that will have to walk, feed, and train that dog. The dog, especially a puppy, may not even want to play with a child. Children often lack the finer motor control that puppies and kittens need, seeing that they are fragile creatures. In fact, children often, accidentally, hurt their pets while trying to play. Being stepped on, dropped, over fed, and being given .dangerous treats. are only a few potential problems.
Things like your own sleep may vanish. Puppies need to go out, and often!
What about:
Needless to say, look at me now. But beyond that, not only would I NOT pick a Yorkshire Terrier to be with kids, she was too small for one. Precious never got beyond four pounds. That is a very delicate creature in the hands of a child. And nother, she was quite the vicious thing. If I had not been gentle with her she would have bitten me, and she hated me guts anyway. It sucks to be rejected by your own pet. Research is an important aspect of getting a dog, especially for a young child.
Research the pet you want to get. A cat? Why? Because they are easy to care for? Many kittens are hyper active and attack and claw in play. They are not malicious, but they have no problem dealing out a blow for a blow if a kid yanks too hard. Declaw the cat to prevent this? Not only is it mean, but to declaw, but the cat is not doing anything wrong if it feels assaulted by your child. A two month old animal, eight weeks we are looking at, is not to be held accountable for such things are defensive scratches or nips, or even play scratches and nips.
And puppies are more than cute. They are demanding, time consuming creatures who will make your life miserable if you do not devote the time to them. Right now I have a 14 week old bloodhound and a six month old rottie at my feet. They keep me worn out, and they are incredibly well behaved. It is keeping them so that is so tiring.
One evening, when the children were not there he called me in and showed me the rabbit. Her legs were twisted and warped, and she was unable to move her read body but to drag it. .What happened?. I asked, and he said that she had seemed fine. Seemed, but he had not checked but to glance in. The story came out later; that she had dropped Midnight, her six month old bunny, and had not told her father for fear that he would be upset.
Midnights legs healed twisted and useless. She died a few weeks later.
The moral of this story is that animals are not suitable to give to children. You can have them with your child, and have your child experience them, but they are not .theirs.. You can not leave them unmonitored like you can a Barbie doll.