Whether you are buying from a pet store, breeder or shelter, the decision to take home an animal should be well thought out and researched. Have you asked yourself; who will take care of the dog? Who will train it? What are the costs? Where will it live? What kind of dog would best suit my family?
Not asking these questions causes many parents to make the heartbreaking decision to give away the dog they thought was such a wonderful gift to their children.
Shannon Emmanuel, the author of ‘Choose the Best Dog for Your Child’ helps parents with the following recommendations:
“Dogs need the responsible care of an adult. If your child does not live up to his or her responsibilities it is unfair to the dog to give it away or send it to a shelter. Parents must be willing to handle the training and day-to-day care of the dog and realize this is a commitment that will last 10-15 years.
Many of the dogs left at shelters are medium to large breeds. This is partly due to the fact that many larger breeds are well known to be good with children, but the size, cost and exercise requirements can cause even the most well intentioned parent to give them up. Understanding what kind of dog would best suit your family is an important part of deciding to get a dog.”
One reader comments “Reading your book, “before we decided what dog to get”, would have saved us a lot of tears and sadness; it was not a pleasant experience having to give our dog away.”
If you are considering getting a dog, make sure you have taken all these aspects into consideration. The book ‘Choose the Best Dog for Your Child’ helps parents to analyze their family situation and make the best decision before buying a dog.
Parents can get the free report “Is your Child Ready for a Dog” at http://best-dog-breed-for-children.com/ChildReadyForDog.pdf
Author Information
Shannon Emmanuel
