How to Take Care of a Dog: 6 Vet-Approved Tips for Kids

Having your child help take care of the family dog has many advantages other than being a great learning experience. It will strengthen the bond between your kid and dog and teach them valuable life lessons and responsible dog ownership.

Kids do not have to do challenging tasks to care for a dog, as there are plenty of age-appropriate ones. It’s a good idea to gradually include your child in caring for the dog. You want them to have enough time to learn how to properly care for a dog without overwhelming them with too many tasks. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of six tips on how your child can take care of a dog.

The 6 Tips for Kids to Take Care of a Dog

1. Help with Training

One of the best ways for kids to feel included when caring for a dog is to involve them in training. It allows them to be part of the training process and understand the rules a dog has to follow in the household.

Kids do not necessarily have to be training the dog, as simply letting them observe is usually enough to make them feel included. They can do small tasks while you are training the dog, such as handing out treats or learning different commands. This will also be beneficial for the dog since they can learn to accept commands from your kid. The commands can include basic words like “sit” or “stay.”

You can allow your child to say a command and wait for your dog to respond appropriately as they have been trained. Your kid can offer a treat to the dog to reward them for following the command. If you need guidance on training your dog, we suggest you speak to a vet.

2. Take Them for Walks

Exercise is great for the whole family, so why not encourage your kid to join you when you walk the dog? Kids can benefit from getting out of the house and walking alongside the dog during walks. Plus, it teaches them about responsibility and allows them to deepen their bond with the dog.

Although it’s not a good idea for young kids to control the dog's leash, older kids should be able to handle small to medium-sized dogs. You should still accompany your older kids while they walk the dog rather than allow them to do it alone.

3. Refilling Their Water Dish

A small task like refilling the dog's water dish can be an excellent way to start teaching your kid how to care for a dog. You can show them how to fill the water dish properly and how to determine if it needs to be refilled. You can also take this time to teach your child why dogs need to stay hydrated with fresh, clean water.

This can help your child feel more encouraged when refilling the dog's water dish because they understand it is important. However, you should still regularly check that your dog’s water dish is being refilled, even if your kid is doing it.

4. Playtime

Children and dogs enjoy playtime, making it the perfect way to encourage them to help care for a dog. It teaches them responsibility and allows them to create mutual trust and a chance to bond with their canine companion. Furthermore, supervised playtime is a great way to teach your kid how to interact with a dog safely.

You should establish rules to protect your child and dog before allowing them to play together. You want to teach them how to appropriately interact with a dog and respect their body language and boundaries.

Several games can be played with dogs by kids, such as fetch, tug of war, creating an obstacle course, or foraging hunts using treats.

5. Poop Scooper Duty

Although being the one to pick up dog poop probably doesn’t make you feel proud, many kids take poop scooper duty seriously. It helps them feel involved in a dog's care and teaches them about hygiene and responsibility.

This is an excellent time to teach your child about the importance of keeping a dog's living environment clean, as it starts by disposing of their waste appropriately. Kids should always be supervised during poop scooper duty and follow proper safety precautions. They should wear disposable gloves and old clothes when picking up dog poop.

Allow your kid to scoop up the poop and place it into a biodegradable doggy bag or compost bin for pet waste. This is also an opportunity to teach them about how they can do their part in reducing their carbon footprint by using environmentally friendly ways to dispose of dog poop.

6. Help with Grooming

Many kids will be thrilled at the chance to groom a dog. They don’t necessarily need to do the more challenging grooming tasks like nail clipping or fur trimming, but they can help with brushing or bathing a dog.

You can use this time to teach your kid how to interact with a dog by gently brushing and carefully observing their body language for any signs of discomfort. Grooming is essential to responsible dog ownership, so involving your kid during the process can teach them about responsibility. You can help your kid understand the importance of grooming a dog to keep their coat tangle-free and clean.

If you are looking for the perfect, pet-friendly shampoo and conditioner combo, we highly recommend the products by Hepper. With a soothing oatmeal shampoo, free of soaps and other harsh chemicals, and a cucumber and aloe scented conditioner, your pet's skin and coat will be smooth, hydrated, and irritation-free. 

At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!

Conclusion

You can encourage your kid to help care for a dog in several ways. You can start by teaching them how to refill the dog's water dish or accompany you when you walk the dog. Once they get the hang of basic care tasks, you can involve them in the grooming and training. Encouraging your child to play with a dog safely can deepen their bond with a dog.

Furthermore, most kids are responsible enough to be on poop scooper duty with your guidance.

See also:

• What is Kibble Dog Food? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

• When to Take a Puppy to the Vet for the First Time?

Featured Image Credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock