Rescue Dogs and Kids Can Mix - Five Tips for Bonding

If your family is adopting a rescue dog, you may have some concerns about how your child and new dog will interact with one another. Involve your child in welcoming your new dog into your home and in taking part in pet care. This will ensure that your child will be able to build a strong relationship with the family dog for years to come. Here are five things you can do to help your child and rescue dog form a bond.
 
1. Picking Out a Dog
Learning more about the dog adoption process and why adopting a rescue dog over other options can be rewarding. Involving your child in the process can teach them valuable life lessons. By seeing a shelter or adoption agency first hand, your child will learn compassion and become a lifelong supporter of animal care. Let them navigate through available dogs. The right dog might just approach your child and will set the tone for your child to be a great dog owner.
 
2. Feeding and Grooming Responsibilities
If your child is tasked with the responsibility of the family dog's well-being, they will take this role seriously. Your rescue dog will in turn associate your child with rewarding activities such as feeding and playtime, which will strengthen their bond. Make sure your new dog is on a schedule for feeding, and supervise this activity at first.
 
3. Training Routine
Having a rescue dog assessed and enrolled in obedience school is a must. If you only have an idea of your rescue dog's past, then one-on-one time with a trainer will be important for you, your child, and your dog. Assessing your dog's responsiveness will set the tone for how the dog responds to basic commands from your child. 4. Assisting in Vet Visits
Your child should be a part of your dog's health-care needs as well. Taking your rescue dog in for an initial checkup is a good idea in case any physical problems need to be identified. Prep your child for the vet's office so they can bring questions regarding your dog's health care. Your child may be more inclined to listen to the vet's advice over yours, which can help the overall care for your dog.
 
5. Having Fun Together
Make sure your child and your new dog have an opportunity to have fun together. If you can make exercise with the dog more fun for your child, your new dog will have more fun as well. They can always play a game of fetch, and if your child can start to teach your dog new tricks like catching a frisbee, rolling over or giving a high five, they will become inseparable.
 
Rescue dogs can come with a host of limitations, but if you involve your child in the process of acclimating your new dog, your child can learn a lot about pet care. Empower your child to be a caregiver for a rescue dog, even if this is challenging in the beginning. If your new pet can learn to bond with your child, your child and dog will both benefit.