Kids and Pets

When you have kids they are often asking you for a dog or a cat. Some parents are reluctant to give a child a pet or have a pet in the house because fear of the animal harming the child is forefront in their minds. There are many dog and cat breeds that you can have in your home that will do really well for you and your family even with small children. There are of course some precautions to make.

First we will look at dog breeds. There are certain dog breeds that demand respect and kids often don’t have those feelings. They would rather pull on the doggy tail or hit it. You can of course work on your child for the proper behavior, but you should start out with a dog breed that is best for children. St. Bernards, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Poodles, Siberian Huskies, and Mastiffs are great dogs to have around children. While you do have to be careful about their size and make sure they are socialized and housetrained they make wonderful pets. They are very affectionate and also tend to take care of the children. These dog breeds will also stand up to a certain amount of abuse. If the child pulls on the tail or accidentally falls into them they are more likely to be worried and protective over showing distaste or aggression. You do have to teach your kid to be respectful, but generally these dogs as pets will offer a wonderful family addition.

For cats you will also find that it is best to have specific breeds. Most cats are going to have issues with children. With cats, who are not as easily to train you will find they tend to nip or bite a child who pulls their ears, tail, or hurts them in any way. It is the cat’s way of showing anger. Cats by nature tend to choose one owner. This owner usually showers them with affection and treats them properly. If you do have a cat or introduce one into your household you should make sure your children are old enough. Typically you want a child no younger than three dealing with any pet, especially cats. At this age the kids are old enough to understand right from wrong and deal with the pain if the cat bites them for a good reason. Some cats you may want in your home will include the Abyssinian, American bobtail, American shorthair, Balinese, Birman, Bombay, Burmese, Manx, Persian, and Siberian. Typically you do not want to have a Siamese cat. Siamese cats tend to be very moody and are often one who demands respect. There are a few mixed breeds that do well if they are partial Siamese to living in a home with children. When you consider kids and pets it is important to realize that not all pets are great for a home. You could have a great dog or cat, but when the child comes along jealousy can be stirred and all the sudden they are no longer a great pet.