Kids and Dogs

"Would you ask your third grader to drive to the store and pick up a few groceries for you? Or perhaps get dinner ready for the family by six o'clock? Why not? After all, your child has ridden in the car and accompanied you to the supermarket many times and knows all about buying groceries. He/She certainly has watched you prepare and serve hundreds of meals on a defined time schedule. But of course, your child does not possess the maturity, focus, or judgment required to drive a car, shop responsibly, or pull a timely meal together."*

Training a dog or puppy to be a well adjusted, balanced member of your pack requires lots of mature thought, planning, focus, and judgment - attributes most commonly found in adults. Although kids benefit from the companionship of a well-trained dog, the job of producing such a dog belongs to grown-ups.
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A well-trained and properly supervised dog brings joy to adult and young family members alike. Even toy breeds should not be handled by young children. Just because they are "toy sized" does not make them TOYS.




*Quoted from The Siberian Husky by Lorie Long
**Thanks to Kevin for this pic of his darling girl and their dog!