Pets enrich our lives in many ways and they are particularly important for the youngest members of our family. Not only that they’re our most loyal companions, but they also love us unconditionally and give us opportunities to learn so much about life, love and relationships in general. Having a pet is like having another family member. They require care, nurture, feeding and a lot of attention, love and commitment. If you have a dog, you may also need to take the time to complete something like leash reactive dog training so that you can all walk your canine companion without fear that they’re going to misbehave or show signs of anxiety. With this in mind, it is extremely important to teach yourself and your family the obligations that come with the pet, aside from the benefits. This is relevant as many people want a pet, but they don’t want responsibilities that come with pet ownership. Well, it doesn’t work that way and, as soon as you and your family understand that and accept it, you’ll be ready to embark on the wonderful journey of having a pet.

Social aspect

They say a dog is a man’s best friend, but this goes for any pet. Pets play a very important role in the socializing process of a child. Not only that they are their friends, but they also help them make new friends. Kids approach other kids with pets rather than ones without them, so pets basically attract new potential friends to us, which is a great thing, especially for a young kid that may be shy. Every child goes through the process of socializing once they start kindergarten or school, this is a period where pets are particularly helpful, especially to ones that do need a small push.

Responsibilities

Another extremely important aspect of pets’ positive influence on children is learning about responsibilities. It’s advisable to include your child in taking care of their pet. Naturally, they don’t need to do all the work, but make sure they have certain obligations and that they’re also aware of all other, such as feeding and giving them water, regular walks, visits to the vet and protective measures. For instance, using Nexgard for dogs is great for preventing tick bites, fleas and all sorts of worms. By protecting your dog, you also protect your children and yourself. It’s important for the whole family!

Cognitive benefits

It has been proven that dogs help children learn how to read. They tend to read out loud to their dogs, for instance. This is even encouraged in some schools by teachers and there are joint pet-student exercises. Nevertheless, since pets are children’s friends and they see them as their best friends, it’s natural for kids to share everything with their furry buddies, including homework obligations and studying.

Physical activity

Another useful habit pets teach youngsters is the importance of physical activity. Most of them need walks or daily running sessions of exploring the outside world. By taking their pets outside, children are more likely to enjoy the time they spend there and, that way, they come to love spending time outdoors and doing all sorts of physical activity. What’s better than doing something healthy and having fun during the process?

Emotions and empathy

Pets are basically filled with love. However, they feel various emotions and they can easily get angry or offended if not treated right. Basically, just like people, they need us to behave nicely to them, love them and spend time with them. As long as we’re good to them, they’ll be good to us. Plus, they love us unconditionally and they suffer when we suffer. Empathy is very strong with pets. You can really notice how your pets want to comfort you when you’re sad. This is also a great thing for your children to learn- empathy.

We owe so much to our furry friends. They are always there for us and, unlike people, they will never betray or disappoint us. All they do is give us their selfless love and support and they ask for so little in return. This is why it’s absolutely amazing to have a pet. If your children are small and you don’t have a pet, change that immediately. Having pets completes us and fulfils our lives. Plus, all the relevant things you’d like your child to learn are better and easier learned with the help of our pets, so, what are you waiting for?