There is something about pets that make families ten times better. In fact, most pet owners don't refer to their animals as pets. Instead, they are members of the family who receive as much attention and love as the humans in the family.
For families with children, it is especially important to keep every member of the family safe. This means spending some time learning more about how you can keep both your kids and your pets safe. Using the following information to your advantage will help you to make this a possibility.
Practice Safe Pet Handling
The first thing you will need to do is to teach your children how to handle their pets. Touching them gently and kindly is the best option when you are looking to keep your kids safe. Kids should be instructed not to pull the tails or ears of their pets. When this happens, pets could become agitated and strike out at children in retaliation.
Kids should also be taught the proper way to handle the specific pets that are in the home. For example, while dogs preferred to be handled one way, cats prefer something entirely different. The important thing for parents to do is to monitor their children while they are playing with the family pets. This is the best way to make sure all members of the family are happy and safe.
Choose the Right Pet
Another important factor parents should keep in mind is the fact that not all pets are preferable when you have children. Some pets may even be dangerous for households with small children. For example, some dogs are temperamental and don't enjoy being around small children. Parents should research their options and choose a pet that works well within their family structure.
Before choosing a new pet for your family, spend some time learning about the different options available to you. Take in some advice from pet experts, like a veterinarian, regarding how to properly care for your new pet. You should also compare the needs of the pet to what you are able to offer them. For example, if you live in a small apartment, you may not want to choose a pet that enjoys spending lots of times running outdoors.
Maintain your Pet
Pets should always be taken to the vet on a regular basis. This is something that can help keep them healthy, which can help keep your kids healthy at the same time. Along with this, make sure you regularly care for your pets by keeping them clean and their nails trimmed. Doing so will help also help you to keep your kids safe from becoming scratched by the animal.
In order to teach your kids how to properly care for your pets, make sure you get them involved in this process. Kids and pets will bond while going through this process. This is also something that can help them to build up a better level of trust with one another. However, it is always best for parents to supervise their kids carefully while they are giving them a bath or caring for them in this capacity.
Train your Pets
Even if your pet works well with kids, you will want to spend some time working on their behavior, especially at first. Training your pets is important and can help to keep them safe. You will also be able to keep your house cleaner, which can help keep your kids healthier. This is one of the most important parts of house training your pets.
Another great thing about training your pets is that it will allow you to teach your pets how to interact with the rest of the family. This is also something that can help keep your children and your pets safe and happy when playing together. While parents should definitely monitor their kids while the pets are being trained, getting them involved with this process is also preferable. Doing so will help keep your kids and pets familiar and comfortable with one another.
Spending time with Pets
Finally, make sure your kids are spending adequate time with the pets in your home. This time should be spent playing and getting to know one another. When pets and kids are comfortable around one another, there is a level of trust that can help keep both safe. The more familiar pets are with your kids and vice versus, the easier it will be to keep everyone safe.
Children should also be taught how to discipline their pets if they do something wrong. They should be instructed never to hit their pets, but to use strong words instead. They should also be instructed to never force their pets to do something they don't want to do. Doing so could result in the pet lashing out against the child.
After playing with the pets, make sure your children wash their hands to keep from getting sick. If your pets are taking any medications or have special shampoos, make sure you keep them away from your kids. Smaller children have a tendency to put things in their mouth and these items could also make them sick.
Following this advice can be something that will help you to keep every member of your family healthy and happy. Regardless, of the age of your children or pets, it is important that you care for both of their safety.Â