We have seen ads encouraging parents to consider pet adoption for their families. But is a rescue dog the perfect pet for your home if you have kids? Find out more about it before you make the decision.

• Related: Pets and Mental Health

Seeking a Rescue Dog as a New Family Member

It’s difficult to predict how a dog will react in a new situation. It’s not uncommon for some dogs to be content at the shelter but become testy in their new home or the other way around. This may be a significant concern if you have minor children. You never know how a newly adopted rescue dog will respond when tested after you get them home. As someone who has a young child and three rescues at home, it is significant to thoroughly consider the process before adopting your first rescue.

In general, adopting from a shelter is a fantastic option that can benefit everyone involved, even if you have minor children. However, when you bring a rescue dog into a family with small children, you must take extra precautions to protect the safety of both your children and your new pet.

• Related: Traveling with a Pet: How Can a Family Do It? 

In many circumstances, a shelter may not have complete information about the dog’s history. This indicates that there could have been issues in the pet’s life that could transform their temperament towards children.

Before adopting a rescue, parents must prepare and educate their children. Parents must pay special attention to how a new canine and children interact during the first few weeks. Here are some facts that you should consider before adopting a rescued dog. 

Adopting a dog from a shelter

About 6% of shelter dogs have decided to return, and that doesn’t count the ones personally rehomed, or worse – abandoned. Before rushing into an adoption choice, please consider making sure you’re ready to adopt a rescue dog. Once you’re determined, you can consider Poodle Rescues For Adoption. Poodles are bright, high-energy, and energetic pups that make wonderful family companions.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, around 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters in the United States each year. While it would be wonderful if all of those animals could find permanent homes, there are several reasons why a rescue dog might not be the most excellent fit for your family. Take some time before adopting to consider what features you desire in your new pet. 

Consider the age of your family members.

If you are adopting a rescued puppy, then think about these facts. Puppies 5 months old and under and toy-sized (under 15 pounds) dogs of any age are usually not developmentally appropriate for children under seven. Puppies have razor-sharp “milk teeth” and toes, and they frequently teethe and scratch toddlers, causing unintended harm. Instead of being adored, the puppy becomes something to be dreaded.

Toy dogs have delicate bones and are sensitive to touch, making them vulnerable to hard or sloppy handling. They are more easily broken and biteable than their large-boned, mellower relatives.

A medium-to-large-sized dog over five months old is usually the safer choice unless your children are susceptible, low-key, respectful persons. Regardless of size, all encounters between little children and dogs should be supervised by a competent adult. They should be separated when there is no one to keep an eye on them.

Discuss responsibility with your children.

Explain to your youngster that they are responsible for caring for and keeping your new puppy safe as part of the family. Make it a point to emphasize that everyone in the family should look out for one another and that your new puppy will be a family member.

In the end, having a pet in the house will teach your child responsibility better than most other things. Dogs are more effective than merely sitting down and talking to your children because they act subconsciously. When your children live with and converse with pets, they inadvertently learn numerous lessons about responsibility.

Preparing yourself and your children

Before you even bring your new furry family member home, you should begin teaching your children about the duties that come with having a pet. Adopting a dog should be a common choice made by the entire family. While you may believe that it is up to the adults in the family to make these decisions, you should also seek your child’s input.

Although most children would want to have a pet, this is not always the case. What if your child is adamant about not having a dog? If they’ve never owned a dog before, they could be apprehensive about the prospect. You may believe that introducing a dog into the house is the most incredible method to get them used to having pets, but this may not be the case.

Additionally, it’s important to prepare your home before welcoming the dog. When getting ready to welcome a rescued dog into your home, it’s important to make sure they’ll be safe and comfortable in their new environment. First and foremost, it’s essential to dog-proof your home by removing any potential hazards such as toxic plants and small objects that could be swallowed. Also, create a designated space for your new dog, such as a cozy bed in a quiet area of your house where they can feel secure. Don’t forget to stock up on essential supplies including food and water bowls. And when it comes to keeping them clean and fresh, you can consider investing in a comfortable dog tub for regular baths.

Companies like Elevate Premium Dog Tubs can offer such tubs designed specifically for dogs, making bath time easier for both you and your furry friend. Additionally, ensure you have all the grooming supplies on hand, like dog wash and shampoo, to keep their coat shiny and healthy.

The Introductory Days Are The Most Difficult

Some rescue dogs have had a terrible life or have trouble, and they don’t trust people easily. Many shelter dogs have also been tossed around in foster homes, so they have no idea what to expect when they arrive at your home.

Some will cry and whine, while others will retreat to the corner. It’s also likely that when you bring them home with you, you’ll notice an entirely different aspect of their behavior.

The same is true for pups found on the streets. For the first night after you adopt a cheerful, fun-loving street dog, you may hear them weep or whine. You may want to try the best dog’s CBD oils to help them relax and sleep better in their new homes.

As quickly as possible, get them to the vet.

Dirt, harmful bacteria, fights, contaminated food, and other health problems confront animals on the streets. As a result, while rescuing an abandoned dog, getting them to the vet as quickly as possible is critical.

It’s best to take the dog to the vet as soon as possible after rescuing them. The vet will examine them and run various tests and give you advice on immunizations and deworming.

Work on ways to boost their self-assurance.

Dogs who have had a distressing event in the past are less confident. These dogs, like victims of human violence, believe they will constantly be mistreated. Some dogs have no idea where to sleep, how to interact with other dogs, where to pee, how to pee, and so on.

It would help if you found measures to boost their confidence in these situations. Instead of scolding them, focus on preparing them for success. Take them out every hour and reward them if they use the restroom. Praise them frequently for the behaviors you value. Praise them as if they were puppies once more!

It would help if you also thought about scheduling a training session at any time of day. To ensure stability, try to keep the time consistent. To increase their confidence and deepen your bond with them, train them with many treats and compliments.

You might not know what breed your dog is.

Even the vet won’t tell what breed some rescue dogs are since their family trees are many different kinds. While knowing the breed can help you predict what habits to expect or how giant your tiny puppy will grow up to be (even 70-pound dogs start as small 5-pound puppies), many mixed breeds are so diverse that breed-specific traits have been toned down. 

However, if you’re looking for a specific breed, you must do your homework. Some dog breeds are unsuitable for families with young children, small animals, or even other canines. If you are looking for Goldendoodle puppies, you can check here: https://centralillinoisdoodles.com/dogs/breeds/goldendoodles/

Never get a dog to be your other dog’s friend.

Not everything will go as planned. They may not only not get along, but they may even despise each other and fight physically.

Before enabling you to adopt, most shelters or rescue organizations will need a meet-and-greet between the two dogs. While things may appear great at first, things may deteriorate once you introduce the new puppy into your home.

Sometimes dogs just don’t get it.

This one could be a little difficult. It would help if you taught your youngster that dogs do not always understand things. You must teach your youngster that dogs do not always understand things in the same way humans do. Explain that dogs require us to speak in short sentences so that they can comprehend us.

For instance, telling your dog to “please sit down on the floor” is too much for him to comprehend at the exact moment. Instead, teach your youngster to use a one- or two-word command, such as “sit,” and go through how dog orders work with dogs.

Be kind and supportive.

When dogs don’t understand your child’s commands, kids don’t always understand how to communicate with them. This is why it is preferable to adopt dog breeds that get along with children. But, in the best-case scenario, your youngster will discover a way to be more understanding and kind.

Discuss the importance of kindness with your children. How does it make them feel when someone is cruel to them? Now ask your children how they believe your dog would react if they were offensive to it. Make a point of emphasizing the significance of being kind.

Final Words

In the end, adopting a rescue dog while you have a little child at home is a fantastic option for many reasons. However, a happy household requires forethought, adequate preparation, and knowledge about how to act around dogs. We hope that our suggestions will help you in adopting a rescued dog and caring for it alongside your children.