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Who let the dogs out… a catchy tune comes to mind. And responsibilities of the dog owner. I bet that’s not what the Baha Men sing about. But if you’re a dog-loving family man, just listen to the beat, forget the lyrics, which I don’t know anyway, and get inspired. There are fun ways to make sure the dog is well cared for and get the whole family involved.
So you got Buddy the Labrador for Jack, your grade school son, who always wanted a dog. Buddy and Jack would certainly make great playmates, but Jack would need help with the dog’s other needs. Look no further, older kids can clean or fill Buddy’s empty food and water container. Or fix the dog area. Or give Buddy a bath. The division of tasks is an excellent opportunity to give children a sense of shared responsibility.
Shared responsibility for the dog also brings family members closer together because of the many bonding opportunities it presents. A boy in my neighborhood walking her dog in the morning when school is out or on weekends is an example. Sometimes in the afternoons it’s the dad, and other times I see dad and son chatting animatedly while walking the dog together. Then I see the boy playing with his younger brother and the dog in the yard. I’m sure these children will long remember these precious moments with dad and dog together.
Specific tasks may be assigned based on age, ability, and availability. Boy, little work, my mother used to say when I was growing up with seven children in the family. Identify tasks and assign them: dog needs food and water, clean dog bowl, dog bed and sheets, dog house or crate, potty breaks, bathroom routine, grooming, exercise and even the game. Make a schedule and checklist of tasks and the corresponding “champion” or responsible and post it in a place clearly visible to everyone. Think of the refrigerator door. Gold kitchen notice board. Also include the time of the vet visit for your own reminder. You can monitor compliance and make it even more fun by rolling out champions when you need to.
A critical aspect of shared responsibility and ownership of a family dog is discipline. It’s easy to give in to Jack if he wants to cuddle up with Buddy on the couch. Or laugh when Buddy jumps up on the dining room table and shares a bite of his son’s food. Or do nothing while Buddy frolics and jumps around the house with the kids. No amount of saying no to everything Buddy does that you don’t approve of will empower you if the rest of your family gives Buddy a wrestling match for everyone. Children get confused by mixed messages and grow up learning the wrong things. Also the dogs. Dog training and psychology professionals tell us that conflicting responses to a dog’s behavior will confuse the dog and set it up for failure.
And then we hear woof stories where the dog takes over the pack: the family. It is important then that an adult or parent maintains the role of leader of the pack. The pack leader sets the guidelines for how the dog should be trained to behave or how family members should react to Buddy in certain situations. Everyone in the family needs to be on board and comply. Owning a dog is more fun when approached as a team effort to make sure Buddy is well cared for, well behaved and a happy member of the family. You don’t have to worry about who lets the dog in or out.