WE ADDED A FURRY FRIEND TO THE FAMILY! TIPS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE A PET TO CHILDREN
Owning a pet can be fun and exciting for the entire family. However, introducing animals to children can be stressful, and when your children meet your new pet, you want to start things on the right foot (and paw!). So, how do you go about doing this? Educating Children on Pet Care Before bringing your four-legged family member home, it’s best to sit down with your kids and teach them how to treat and care for a pet. They should pet their new friend politely and make sure the animal is comfortable. Teach them what a cat or dog looks like when they’re happy, scared, or annoyed. Next, establish boundaries on what is and isn’t okay for your pet to eat and how to play with and care for them. You can also take this time to discuss the potential risks
of owning a pet and what could happen if your child improperly handles them. Don’t forget to talk about dog or cat bites, scratching, and other behaviors. Preparing the Introduction When it’s finally time to bring your new family member home, inform your children about how nervous your new pet might be. They will be in a new environment with people they don’t know — so you want them to be as comfortable as possible. First, allow your new pet to venture around the home and check things out. Once they’re acquainted with their surroundings, it’s time for them to meet the kids.
also want two guardians involved during the introduction — one can keep an eye on the furry friend, and the other can help the children. It’s also best to keep your new pet on a leash or harness if you need to separate them from anyone. Remembering the Acronym PAWS Teach your children to pause before approaching the animal. Have them ask if they can pet or play with the new four-legged friend. After your child wait s for permission, have them gently offer a hand for your pet to sniff to see if they want to interact. If you need further guidance on introducing a new pet to your family or want to know how to train your furry friend, contact your local veterinarian for additional information.
If you have multiple kids, have each child meet your new pet one at a time. You
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