Posted on by

Six Points to Consider When Choosing a Pet For Your Child

Six Points to Consider When Choosing a Pet For Your Child
By Hilary Daglish

“Can I have a pet for my birthday, Mum?” says Amelia
“Not yet, you’re too young” replied Mum

This was a common question for several years until one day Mum thought that Amelia is ten now and might be ready for the responsibility of owning and looking after a pet.

So what is the best pet for Amelia?
How can Mum help her make this important choice?

Here are six points to consider when choosing a pet for your child eg Amelia

  1. Ask ” What kind of pet do you like?”

It may be a duck to a dinosaur.

You need to set limits as to what pets you are prepared to have, what pets you are able to have eg if you live in an apartment then no Great Danes are allowed and what pets are safe for you to have. Write down the choices.

2.Level of Commitment:

Think about what level of commitment Amelia has shown in past projects, like a sport or a hobby.

  • was she keen at first and then slack off?
  • did she wear her skates once and leave them lying around?
  • does her floor look like a jungle?
  • what is her staying power at things like?

You have more pet choices if she is a dedicated person. And her interest should be long enough to see the pet into middle age.

  1. What is the ‘ick’ factor?

Is Amelia squeamish at the thought of little gerbil goodies left in the palm of the hand, pet vomit or fussy at the thought of feeding the animal that she mistakenly chose? If so then the pet needs to be a cleaner variety and less hands on – nice tropical fish are great for finicky children.

  1. Activity Level:

Is Amelia active or more laid back? This is something to consider because trying to get your inactive child to walk a dog is very stressful or giving tropical fish to an energetic person is totally pointless when they could be running a more active pet.

  1. Temperament:

The saying that ‘opposites attract” could be beneficial. If Amelia was shy then a bouncy Boxer may help to break her out of her shell. or if Amelia can’t stay still then a gentle pug might calm her down.

  1. Responsibility:

Who is responsible for this pet? Make sure everyone in the family is aware of this. Even though Amelia asked for a pet she is not totally responsible – it becomes at least partial responsibility of other family members who may, for example, feed the cat or walk the dog from time to time. It is important to make sure Amelia understands the rules and obligations that will be expected of her before bringing a pet home. You can make it clearer with pictures for younger children but Amelia is old enough to get clear worded directions. You can give out rewards and punishments for meeting obligations or not, e.g. if she does not feed the cat then she will loose television watching time.If Amelia is taught responsibility now then she’ll turn out to be a responsible adult.

Sometimes Amelia may forget certain things in cat care or is sick, have extra school work or extra curricular activities and so it may be time for you or another family member to step in. If you are not prepared to do this then you may need to reconsider getting a pet at this time.

The idea about choosing a pet for your child, in this case Amelia, is to give them (or Amelia) the options according to what you want, what you can have with considerations of responsibility and their (or her) personality. Then let them (or her) have their (or her) say at what they (or she) wants. Hopefully a suitable choice can be made which can not only give the family a pet but your child or children (or Amelia) a friend forever.

The Final Outcome of Choosing a Pet for Your Child

Let’s take the example of Amelia.

Amelia is a bright and bubbly girl who loves being active with sport like netball and swimming plus enjoying quiet times with reading and drawing. She also likes socialising with her friends. Her room can get a little messy but it’s because she gets carried away with her interests.She doesn’t mind the thought of cleaning up animal messes and decided she would like to have a young pet like a puppy or kitten to grow up with.

Her parents thought that she would show responsibility towards caring for a puppy or kitten as well as having the right personality. There limiting factor was a small house and back yard. So they all decided that a kitten would be a great pet for Amelia.

So what next in the process of choosing a pet for your child.

  1. Finding A Pet For you child. In this case a kitten for Amelia
  2. Training Your Pet In this case training a Amelia’s kitten.

Article Source: Six Points to Consider When Choosing a Pet For Your Child

Posted on by

Joint Care For Dogs – 3 Ways You Can Help Your Dog

Joint Care For Dogs – 3 Ways You Can Help Your Dog!
By Lee A. Murray

If your best friend is hurting, I have a few suggestions which may help. Joint care for dogs is not to be taken lightly by any means, as it can save your little buddy a lot of future agony… and yourself a lot of money!

There are 3 powerful things you can do to give your dog the best joint care possible. Whether your dog is healthy as can be, has mild to moderate joint pain, or is full-blown arthritic, these steps will ensure that your dog is healthy and happy. Ready? Great!

Joint Care For Dogs – 3 Ways You Can Help Your Dog:

Massage and acupressure are HUGE! Most dogs experience joint problems in their hips, knees, and elbows. By simply taking a few minutes out of your day to lay your dog down and massage the muscles surrounding these joints (avoiding the joints themselves) you will be giving your special friend a tremendous gift. For added benefit, firmly squeeze each of the Achille’s tendons of your dog (while he/she is still lying down) for 30 to 60 seconds each. Just watch your dog relax in pure bliss!
Keep your dog active. If he or she is arthritic, it is best to provide light exercise. An overweight dog is far more prone to develop osteoarthritis (joint and bone swelling), and you do NOT want that for your dog! If this is already your dog’s misfortune, it is definitely advised to keep your dog from being sedentary. Light exercise and a responsible diet are key!
Try to avoid medications. Instead, favor natural supplements. Supplements containing homeopathic ingredients proven to prevent swelling, friction, fluid retention, stiffness, weakness, and pain in your dog’s joints are ideal.

Following these three steps should get and keep your dog on the right track. This is joint care for dogs that anyone can provide. You and your buddy are going to do great!

Lee Murray is a nutritionist and dog lover who is committed to helping you make your best friend as healthy and happy as possible. You are invited to take a look at Pet Bounce [http://DoggyJoints.com], the safe, effective treatment for dog joint pain and arthritis.

Examine the incredible ingredients, see how it’s helped others, and then sign up for your very own FREE trial! Your dog is going to LOVE you for this!

Article Source: Joint Care For Dogs – 3 Ways You Can Help Your Dog!

Posted on by

5 Things You Should Know About Caring For Cats

5 Things You Should Know About Caring For Cats
By Darren Chan

Owning a pet is a huge responsibility and shouldn’t be a decision that is made lightly. If you’re a new cat owner or planning to get one as a pet, you will need to know a few cat care essentials. Here are 5 things you should know about caring for cats. Hopefully this will make your decision to own one a little easier.

Diet:

The saying you are what you eat can be applied to cats as well. There are lots of cat foods available in the supermarkets and pet stores, a lot of them of pretty low quality. I would suggest laying off cheap dry food and adding omega 3 supplements for a healthier skin. You should also choose the correct food for your cat’s age as choice of food plays a part in obesity and heart disease as she ages.

Grooming:

Grooming is an important factor and depending on the length of your cat’s coat, you might need to groom her every other day. You have to take note that cats are notoriously adverse to water and bathing her might not be fun. You’ll need to get cat shampoo and a good pet brush for this activity.

Behavioural Problems:

This could happen with any pet and your cat might exhibit behavioural patterns such as aggression, listlessness, urinating outside the litter tray, etc. Cats do not react well to punishment and the key to successful training is patience and love for your pet.

Scratching of Furniture:

This is a common behaviour of cats yet something that might freak out new cat owners. You can’t stop cats from scratching as it is something they do to keep their claws trim. If you wish to keep your furniture intact, I suggest you invest in a good scratching post.

Litter:

You’ll need to clean and change your cat litter box regularly and fill it with fresh litter. Training your cat to use the litter box will be required for new cats.

Cats are fun and affectionate pets, but they need love and respect. Hopefully these tips about caring for cats will help increase the bond between your pet and yourself.

Cat dandruff and cat dander are common cat problems. Find out how to cure and prevent them at catdandruffaway.com.

Article Source: 5 Things You Should Know About Caring For Cats