Pets can be a fantastic means of teaching children responsibility. You need to bear some things in mind though if you’re to get the right dog for a child, such as his or her age and how he/she might act towards the animal. How do you know that the new puppy won’t be flushed down the toilet by the young playful child? Just because the child is small doesn’t mean that you must buy a small puppy. If your child is going through the stage of boisterous toddler, you might be better getting a larger dog who can take being bashed about from time to time. If the child is too rough, you might be better to put off buying a puppy until he or she has grown a little older when the child is ready to have some responsibility. On the other hand, you could get a much older dog. You will find a great deal of dogs that have been put in an animal shelter for reasons other than being aggressive or mistreated. The owner of such a dog might have fallen sick or have become unable to cope with the dog financially. Many of these dogs are already housebroken, experienced, and calm. Before you go out and purchase a dog for your child, it can be a great idea to take your child to see your friends' dogs and perhaps take them out for the day. You could also take the child to a dog shelter to see the animals there. Doing these things will help you to decide whether your child is really ready for a dog as a pet, and it will allow the child to see what caring for a pet dog will involve. You can get almost any breed of dog you’d like from rescues. Not only that, but these rescues have dogs that are up to date with shots. You’ll be able to find dogs that have also been neutered or spayed. Dogs won’t all be fond of children. Getting a dog from a rescue can allow you to know that the dog will be friendly around your child and any pets you may already own. Once you’ve got the perfect pet for your child, you’ll need to take it to your local vet for a physical check-up to find any problems with the animal. Whereas certain problems can be resolved right away, others take more time. That is why rescue dogs are a great choice again since you know they won’t have any serious disease or joint issues, and it is more than likely that your child will get a good shaped animal. You will have to do a lot of the initial caring for the dog as you show your child how to look after the animal, so make sure you are ready for such a task. Do a good amount of research on the breeds of dog before choosing which is the best pet for your child. Doing all of this can help you to choose the best dog possible when you finally arrive at your decision. Information is written by Joseph Hanson.

The new puppy should not be kept away from the baby or it may not accept the baby as part of the "pack." Allow the puppy and baby to get to know each other. The puppy may want to sniff the baby which is fine. The puppy uses its sense of smell to acquaint itself with all things. The puppy should be taught not to lick the baby. If you're expecting a baby, then you should take the dog to the vet 6 weeks prior to the birth and have it examined for parasites especially tapeworms and just a general checkup. Once the dog is allowed to sniff the baby and get to know the baby the dog will usually begin to protect the baby. Children who are allowed to grow up with pets usually gain experiences that will benefit them the rest of their lives. Also with a dog they will always have a Loyal friend.