Everyone knows that dogs are very family-oriented animals and love to be around people, but have you ever considered getting a dog for your own family? There are so many reasons why people choose to get a dog and why they then get very attached to their furry friends and subsequently feel lonely without them. What is so ideal about dogs is that they come in all shapes and sizes and each dog breed is very unique in terms of its temperament and what kind of attention it requires. Here are some other reasons why getting a dog could be great for your family.
Dogs Keep You Fit
One reason for your family to get a dog is to keep you all fit and active, since having a dog requires you to regularly exercise it through walks and running around. When you don’t have a dog, it can be hard to fit exercise in sometimes when you are trying to juggle it around work and all your other commitments. However, once a dog is in your life, you will be forced to go outside on a regular basis in order to make your dog’s life happy and fulfilling.
This will also get you into a routine if you are incorporating a walk or two into your daily activity and will keep you feeling refreshed. As well as helping your dog stay active and happy, this will have great effects on your own mental health, as walks and fresh air are proven to help you have a little time to relax and escape from other elements of your life.
If you are worried about the time commitment that you will have to dedicate to having a dog, do not stress. Time for Paws is an online pet shop which sells all the necessary items you will need for your dog, such as pet supplies and pet food. This makes it super easy to order everything you need as you don’t even need to venture out of your own home to get anything you require, which means there is one less thing to think about.
Teaching Children About Responsibility
Having a dog during the early part of their life is really good for children’s development, and particularly for teaching them core values that they will carry with them for the rest of their life. One example of this is the value of responsibility, which is such an important thing for children to learn. By having a dog, they will know what it is like to take care of something. Good ways to incorporate a little responsibility into the dog and child relationship is to make it the responsibility of your child to feed the dog every morning, or to make it their job to give the dog a treat when it is behaving well.
Giving your child a role in the dog’s life will also give them a sense of importance which will increase their own self-confidence. As a young person, feeling as though you have been given some level of responsibility works wonders on their self-esteem, as it demonstrates that you trust them.
Particularly if you decide to adopt a dog from an animal shelter, this will help teach your child about compassion and the need to put others first, especially those in need.
A Reason for Your Family to Bond
Having a dog is an amazing way to bring your family together and help you bond, as a dog will keep you all feeling as though you are united and all have something to put your energy into. No matter the age group of your family, whether they are small kids or in their teens, a dog will always bring out their soft side.
Having a dog that all of your family love means that you will be able to easily persuade everyone to spend time together, for instance through going on a family walk on a regular basis. You could assign a time during the week, like a Saturday afternoon, when you all get together and take the dog out. Not only will this keep you all close and help ensure that you are spending time together, it is also a great way to check in on your family members. When you are inside of the house, it can often be difficult to reflect on your emotions since it can feel a little intense, but going on a walk is the perfect time to do this.
You can also make up some funny traditions that you all do together as a family which involve your dog. For instance, as well as celebrating the birthdays of all of your family members, many dog owners also celebrate the birthdays of their dogs. This can be really fun, especially for younger children, as you can make the dog’s birthday into a proper event – a birthday party even! Additionally, this will make it feel as though the dog is genuinely a member of your family rather than simply a pet.
A Fun Distraction When You Feel Down
Dogs are often referred to as companions rather than pets, which is completely true. Having a dog can feel extremely comforting, particularly when you are feeling a bit under the weather physically or mentally. Sometimes, when you feel as though you do not want to be entirely alone but also do not want to have the pressure of having lots of people around you, having a dog can be the perfect in between. This will give you a sense of comfort and companionship without actually having to speak to anyone if you are not in the mood to do so.
A dog is something that will remain in your memories forever and is often what defines their childhood if they have good memories of having a dog around. However, you must remember the phrase ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’. Having a dog is a responsibility, but it comes with so many benefits and will truly be a ray of sunshine in all of your lives.