Best Friends: Kids and Pets

It’s no secret that pets have been helping kids for decades, both physically and emotionally. That’s why in honor of National Kids and Pets Day and National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, epetsure is highlighting all the wonderful ways that kids can return the favor by helping their furry friends.

Training

Kids and their pets make the cutest photos and the sweetest best friends. But it can be hard sometimes to know how to help kids connect with pets. Even the smartest furry friends can be unpredictable, especially before a meaningful bond is formed between the child and the animal. A great way to help your child develop a long-lasting relationship with their dog is to involve them in playtime and training.

Here are 5 easy things your child can teach their dog:

1. Your dog’s name. Every time your child greets your dog, have the child say the dog’s name. Do this over and over, and soon your dog will come when called. That’s when you can have your child give the dog a treat, and nothing says friendship like the sharing of food.
2. Holding a small treat in his hand, have your child use the other hand to gently rest it on the dog’s rump. As he raises the treat over the dog’s hand, and presses lightly on the rump, the dog will sit. Repeat the word “sit” and “good dog.” This is an easy trick that your child and dog can practice throughout the day.
3. Once your dog has learned the sit, have your child give the sit command and then say “stay” and take a few steps back. If the dog gets up, take him back to where he started and repeat, “stay.” Then take a few steps back again. Your child can repeat this exercise until the dog learns the idea, and then of course, reward the dog with a treat.
4. Have your child walk a few feet away from your dog and then call out “come.” To make it more enticing for your dog, add his name, and perhaps intrigue him with a treat. When the dog comes, repeat the word “come” and “good boy.” Repetition and patience are always key when training a dog and/or working with a child.
5. Shake hands. From the sitting position, lift your dog’s paw in your hand and say “shake.” When he does this, praise him, and give him a treat. Repeat several times. Then put your hand out without taking his paw, and say “shake.” When he puts his paw in your hand, give him lots of praise, a small treat, and know that you’ve got the best dog ever.

Giving Back

Of course, adopting a pet is the best gift a child can offer a furry friend. But, there are so many other ways kids can make a difference in the lives of furry friends. Many shelters and humane societies have reading programs established, where kids can come in and read to the shelter animals. The rewards of this are two-fold, because the children practice their reading skills, and the animals are exposed to children, helping them develop their social skills, which they will need when adopted by loving families.

There are also other organizations, such as Kids and Canines that works with at-risk youth by pairing them with shelter dogs. The teens train the dogs to help other kids with disabilities, like autism. The bonds and friendships that are formed reform not only the dogs, but the teens, as well.

Animals rarely ask for much, but a little affection and the occasional treat. Kids and animals have so much to learn from each other. Epetsure encourages all pet parents and children to seek out their local humane society and find ways to help each other.