Checklist for Getting Your Child a Dog

Getting your child a gift is one of the most exciting things you can do as a parent. Whether it’s their birthday, coming up to Christmas, or you just want to spoil them, gifts are something that a child is always going to love.

You’re going to have so many different options when it comes to buying your child a gift. From toys to dolls to anything remotely fun, being stuck for choice usually isn’t something that parents have to deal with.

One of the best gifts you could ever give anyone, however, might just be a dog. Getting a dog as a child is a day that you’re never going to forget, and this is something that you could be able to do for your child. If you’re planning on doing this, then there are some things that you need to make sure of first. By following the checklist below, you can be fully prepared and ready to give your child the present of a lifetime.

Make Sure You’re Able to Take Care of it

Gifting your child a dog doesn’t outright mean that the dog belongs to your kid. Although you will be saying that it’s theirs, you’re going to have to do a lot of caregiving for the dog. A child isn’t going to be able to do much for the dog, other than give it love and fun. So, this means some of the bigger responsibilities will fall to you. You definitely have to keep this in mind when you’re investing in a new pet. If you’re not able to care for the dog as well, then it isn’t fair on the animal. This includes things such as getting established with a veterinarian, looking into pet insurance, getting the right dog food, and making sure they get enough exercise.

Use the Dog to Teach Them Responsibility

Owning a dog is a massive responsibility. Now that you’ve decided to give your child a pet, it’s important to help your children learn what a large responsibility it can be to welcome a pet into your family. They will need help to understand that unlike a toy, a pet’s needs are always present, even when you’re not actively playing with them.

Getting the Right Size Dog

There are a lot of different dog breeds out there that you’re going to have to choose from. Trying to decide between these different dogs can definitely be tough. However, you can make it easier for yourself by refining the options. Of course, the first thing you’ll need to do is make sure that it’s a breed that will interact well with children. Then, you need to look at the size and exercise needs of the animal. If you don’t have a lot of free space, then you’ll need to stick to the smaller, or lower-energy breeds.