Can we have a dog, please?

Contents

• Why have a dog?
• Getting the right dog for you
• Training your dog
• Training yourself
• What your dog needs from you
• What kids say about dogs
• Dr Kim says

Why have a dog?

Having a dog as part of the family can be really great. There are so many good things about having a dog.

	Dogs can be wonderful friends and companions.
	You will always have a friend to be with, who loves you and who you can learn to care for and be responsible for.
	Dogs get you out of the house because they need exercise.
	Dogs can sit quietly for ages when you are busy but are always ready to go with you whenever you want.
	You are never lonely if you have a dog.
	You soon make friends with other dog owners.

Getting the right dog for you

Having a dog means that you are completely responsible for another being. So, before you start asking your parents for a dog you need to do some thinking and some research. (If you show that you have really found out everything you need to know you may stand more chance of getting the dog!)

• Research the type of dog who would fit in well with your family lifestyle. Look at this site: www.dogsncats.asn.au/site/page.cfm to find out about different breeds and sizes of dogs, how much food, exercise, training etc they will need.
  
• Who is going to be responsible for the dog, not just for the first week?
• How much time will the dog have to be by itself?
• What are the costs of having a dog? This includes buying the dog, food, collar and lead, registration with the local Council, visits to the vet for injections, grooming and regular use of worming tablets.
  
• What about training the dog? Is there somewhere nearby where you can join a dog training class?
• Is there a dog park or beach nearby where the dog can run free, when he has learned to come when you call?

Training your dog

If you do everything right and you get a dog that fits in with your family then you need to train him, even if he is not a puppy when you get him.

You and mum or dad need to:

		take him to puppy or dog training classes so that he learns to sit, walk and stay on command
		teach him how to act around other people and dogs
		teach him to go to his bed when you eat and not to beg for food when you are eating
		teach him that jumping up on people is not acceptable

	teach him not to bark all the time
	teach him to behave well with visitors
	teach him to be gentle with you and other young children
	teach him not to chew or destroy things by letting him have his own toys that are tough enough to withstand his sharp teeth.

 You need to teach him to do the right thing by rewarding him.

He will soon realize that bad behaviour gets no reward and very quickly learns that, "No" is not what he wants to hear from you.

Training yourself

You will have to be very strict with yourself too.

	Do the tasks for looking after the dog every day.
	Do not get mad with the dog if it doesn't do what you ask.
	Don't encourage bad behaviour, like begging or jumping, because it looks cute!
	You need to learn how to train your dog by using the same commands every time.
	Be patient. It takes time to train a dog.
	Always be calm and respectful to your dog and don't allow others to tease him, especially with food.
	Never feed a dog from the dinner table or share your food while you are eating it.
	Never pat a strange dog without asking the owner first.
	Don't allow strangers, especially children to pat your dog unless you are very sure how he will react.
	Always walk your dog on a lead if you are alone.
	Remember that sweet treats are sometimes food for you and never food for dogs.

What your dog needs from you

Your dog needs to be, and feel, cared for.

He needs:
	to be fed, watered, groomed and exercised every day
	to be treated for worms and fleas regularly
	to be protected from other animals or children who would hurt him
	to be able to eat his meal in peace by himself
	to be taken to the vet for regular vaccinations and check-ups
	to have a proper diet
	to be treated in the same way, eg. don't smile when he does something naughty then get angry when he does it again
	your love
	a kennel, or shelter outside, if he is going to be an 'outside' dog.

What kids say about dogs

• "My dog can run around for an hour and not get puffed. We take her to the dog park for her to meet new dogs."
• "Everyone should get a pet. When mum asks which pet you would like to choose you should pick one that fits perfectly with you."
  
• "Nessia is my dog. She is a west highland terrier and her breed comes from Scotland. She is small and has stumpy legs but I love her and she loves me."
• "We have two dogs because we are out a lot and they can keep each other company."
• "Our dog is very old and she doesn't want to go for long walks any more. We are going to get a young dog from the animal shelter. It will keep her company and our family can still walk the dog."
• "We can't have a dog because we live in an apartment. I take my nana's dog for a walk when I stay with her. Ralph loves it when I am there. I don't think he gets out much when I'm not."
  

Dr Kim says

If you or someone else in your family have asthma, then it is wise to check with your doctor first before getting a dog.

You might get ringworm or have an allergic reaction to a pet's dander (the dead skin and hair that flakes off a dog's body) but humans can't catch other illnesses from dogs. Have a look at the topic Fungal infections for more about ringworm.

Having a dog in the family is a lot of work but is also very rewarding if you and the dog are trained well.

If you want to find out more about owning a dog, have a look at http://www.gooddogsa.com/kids/ 

We've collected this information to help you to understand important things about staying healthy and happy. However, if you feel sick or unhappy, it is important to tell your mum or dad, a teacher or another grown-up.