9 Ways a Dog Is Good for Kids

The iconic picture of a family photo complete with Fido is no longer a social cliché. Studies and social experiments have shown that man’s best friend may actually benefit children more.

Trying to convince your spouse why you should get a dog? Here are some of the reasons my kids and I used to successfully argue for getting a dog at my house.

Dogs encourage patience
This may not surprise you but dogs do not speak our language. Communicating with dogs requires kids to exercise patience and teaches them to tolerate others when they don’t listen to you. Adults can learn a little about patience too!

Dogs encourage responsibility
Taking care of another living thing is a privilege, especially when that living thing can look back into your eyes and show its emotions. Kids are taught to be accountable when taking care of dogs and their well-being.

Dogs in most parts of the country need to have flea and tick control applied once a month, and that is a great thing to have a child help out with.

Dogs teach compassion
Teaching commands created by humans in a language they don’t really understand will mean that the dog will fail to comprehend at some point. Kids are forced to empathize with the dog during the training process in order to determine when the dog has had enough for the day.

Kids learn to show kindness in tending to their pets welfare. Making sure their dog gets the care they need or takes any needed medication can help teach children to be compassionate to others.

Dogs introduce kids to social behavior
The majority of canines in the world are pack animals with a social hierarchy. Domesticated dogs have shown similar behavior.

Children are integrated into a dog’s social hierarchy and force kids to interact with dogs in a manner besides human and animal.

Dogs encourage exercise
It is a fact that all dogs need exercise, no matter if they are the smallest teacup Chihuahua or the largest Great Dane. We walk our dog a few miles a day and it is a great reason to get outside.

Dogs bring kids outdoors so that they can get some much needed exercise alongside their four-legged companion. There are easy to use flea control solutions so taking your dog outside won’t be a concern.

Dogs foster imagination and creativity
In a child`s mind there is nothing like peeking around the corner of the living room and coming face to face with a dragon ready to be slain.

A child completely understands tucking your head under the covers to find yourself in an imaginary wonderland. Children`s minds can run wild with thoughts and ideas. With a canine buddy they are able to embark on their make believe adventures with abandon.

In many households, dogs are a child’s first friend and fellow adventurer.

Dogs initiate camaraderie
As previously mentioned, dogs are often a child`s first friend. Dogs are their first confidant and their first adventure buddy. The friendship between a child and their dog is a bond that is not quickly broken.

Dogs are fun
Dogs are not people and can constantly surprise us. No matter how well we train them, there is an air of uncertainty and unpredictability to them.

But it is this quality that also surprises us at the oddest of times. That weird look they give that brings a smile, giggle or laugh from deep within a child is truly one of life`s greatest moments.

Dogs teach the cycle of life
Dogs age at an accelerated rate compared to that of an average human life span. Most dogs live between the ages of 12 to 17 years of age. Within an average dog’s life a child can witness that dog grow from a puppy to an adolescent to an adult and then to an aged dog.

In the end, it will also teach them that all lives come to close. A dog, in its lifetime, can teach a child the value of life.

Conclusion
As it turns out dogs have become one of society`s greatest teachers. Through their loyal and unconditional love for their human companions they have enriched the youngest of us. With their dogs, kids can learn key developmental traits and characteristics.

Children can pick up from dogs certain behavior on how to act in groups, how to treat others and the significance of a lifelong friend. Dogs are sometimes known as man’s best friend. In our house, our dog is our child’s best friend.

Armed with our list of reasons, the kids and I set out to prove that getting a dog was a worthwhile endeavor. Our mission was a success, and we are now the proud (and happy) owners of a wonderful puppy!

Nina blogs about all things dogs, and tries to help people cut through all the marketing hype. She’s always been a dog lover and has a passion for helping find solutions to problems. That’s how Dogs By Nina started – now it’s a hub for great information about dogs.

 

You can find many useful information about how to protect your yard from ticks at OrganicDailyPost.

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