It was last year right around this time when the begging started. My daughters are both admirers of animals, particularly dogs, and had taken to asking if we could add a puppy to our family. I have allergies to most animals, so I kept saying, “I’m sorry, but…no.” The begging, however, persisted.

My allergy argument couldn’t dissuade my eldest who assured me that there were hypoallergenic breeds. She then began to devote quite a lot of time to the research of puppies. And then…the crying began. She would get herself so worked up over not actually having a puppy that she couldn’t sleep for all her crying. Through it all, I held firm: no puppies for our house. I don’t want to take on the responsibility of one more living being. Sorry, but no.

When my husband started telling me, out of earshot of the children, “Every child should have a pet at some time.”, well, I knew soon our family would be growing. Sure enough, one day he came home, the kids excited about a puppy they’d seen while they were out. They took me to meet him. See that little puppy face in that picture? Yeah. I couldn’t resist either. One year later, I have obviously had to soften my anti-dog stance.

Adding a pet to your family

Previously, I laughed at those who claimed a puppy was like a member of their family. How can a pet be that important, I wondered? Easily, actually. And just as it’s difficult when you have a new baby in your home, a new animal is pretty difficult too. Expect some time to adjust, expect spending a lot of time house training (we were fortunate to have it mastered within a week), and even expect some sleepless nights initially.

A pet is a commitment of your time, your resources and love – before you get a pet, be sure you are ready to spare all three.

Your kids might make promises they won’t keep

My daughters promised to feed and walk our pup regularly. They promised to take responsibility for feeding him and making sure his water was always fresh. They assured me they would be amazing dog walkers. And…sometimes they are. But keep in mind, kids are kids and pets are a huge responsibility. At ages five and nine, my daughters just aren’t old enough to take on this much responsibility on their own. I knew before we brought our puppy home that despite their promises, I would be taking on much of this work myself.

Be realistic with your children what your expectations are – there are plenty of age-appropriate pet related tasks that your children can be responsible for. My youngest isn’t strong enough to walk our pup, but she can toss a tennis ball to him in the backyard when he needs to play. My nine year old is definitely able to keep an eye on his food and water bowl to make sure that he always has water and food at his mealtimes. When it comes to training your pet, all members of the family could and should be involved if they can (in fact, it was my girls who taught our puppy to “high five”!).

Be sure you are ready before bringing home a pet

I knew that a puppy would be a lot of work – which is why I was resistant – but once we brought him home, I expected that much of the work would fall to me. It’s not a decision that should be made lightly. If you decide your kids are right, and your family needs a pet, be sure to check out this list of things to know before buying a puppy.

Photo credit: author’s own