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Picking a dog

      Choosing the right breed of dog for a family can be difficult. It isn’t a wise idea to totally listen to your children’s ideas because, unless they are at least in their teens, they really don’t understand the pros and cons.     Smaller dogs work better with young children (4-7). They are less likely to have “encounters” with a smaller dog in terms of being “over-powered”.

      A dog or a puppy really does not belong in a household with children under the age of four, unless it’s an adult dog that was there before the children.

      Why? Because children don’t have their motor skills developed right away and they could accidentally harm a small dog or a puppy. They might not understand that running their tricycle over a dog’s paw is painful—and conversely, the dog only feels threatened and could react unfavorably.

      Before this turns into a totally negative treatise, be assured that having a dog in a household does help children understand about the needs of a “dumb” (unable to talk) animal and teaches them different types of responsibilities.

      More next time.