Every pet living in a household with children should be given his own private area where he can go to get away from the kids when necessary. This can be a specific area of the house or a crate, and children should be taught to leave the pet alone when in his private area and to respect his privacy.
Pets can provide a wonderful way for children to learn about respect as well as responsibility. For this reason it can be very beneficial to involve children in a pet's care, including their training, feeding and grooming. Your veterinarian might even be willing to talk with your children to explain the importance of caring properly for your pet. However, it's important that parents make certain that the children are actually completing any chores that they are given regarding the family pet.
It's also important that children with pets be taught about unfamiliar animals. Not all animals will be as friendly as their own. They should learn to ask for permission before approaching or petting an unfamiliar animal. Further, to avoid dog bites, children should be taught the appropriate way to act around dogs, including not to stare directly at a dog.
Previous about teaching children to properly handle pets.
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