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 Every year, thousands of kids wish for a pet for The New Year. If you're planning on providing this miracle for your children, there are a few mistakes you should try to avoid.
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| Don't buy for price |
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If you're buying a pet from a breeder, don't buy solely on price. The pet may only be $300 but you can pay thousands more in health care because you didn't purchase from a reputable breeder.
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| Don't forget about the work |
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 Any pet parent knows about the amount of work that goes into raising a pet. If the pet is for your children, make sure everyone knows the responsibilities and time it takes to love and care for your pet. We recommend creating a time chart before purchasing to visualize the time and effort it takes.
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Do let your kids take care of a friend's dog for a week |
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Warning your kids about the work can only do so much, it's best to test the waters for a week. If you have a friend that's willing to let your family care for their pet for a week, try it. This way they can witness firsthand what they may have to give up in order to take care of a new pet.
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| Don't leave pets unsupervised with children |
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 Leaving a new pet and a young child alone is potentially hazardous to both parties. Children and pets need to get to know each other. Children under 5 should never be left in the same room with a pet without supervision.
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Do teach kids & pets to coexist |
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 Kids and pets both need to learn to live together, it's not an automatic bond. Your pets will more likely adjust to children than children will to pets. Make sure kids know their boundaries and don't mistreat animals.
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| Don't think that kids need puppies |
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Some older adopted dogs may not love kids. However, there are many adult dogs in shelters that have grown up with kids and love their energy. Adult dogs are often easier to raise with small children because they don't demand the attention that younger dogs do. Also, shelters love to see their adopted dogs go to great families and often offer extra support that breeders do not provide.
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For more information about pets : Pet Books, Videos and DVDs |
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