At some point your kiddos are going to ask for a new puppy. A family pet is a great way to teach kids responsibility but it is a huge undertaking. Find out how to practice puppy care with kids before taking the leap into pet ownership.
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I have seriously been considering getting another dog lately. It doesn’t help that the kids beg me for one constantly.
However, while we are paying off debt isn’t the right time for us to take on more expenses.
Instead of waiting for that final debt payment to take the leap, we’ve decided to start practicing now. That’s why I’ve come up with these tips for how to practice puppy care with kids.
Start with this adorable new children’s book about a little boy and his new puppy. It is written by sisters Katie and Carrie Weyler who grew up in Ohio with a family of 5 kids.
Story Synopsis
“Today is a very exciting day for Charlie Tractor™. Charlie is going to the animal shelter to pick out a dog! Now he just has to figure out what to name his new friend. Children will love getting to know Charlie’s new pet in this fun story for dog-lovers.”
Charlie Tractor and Pickles is the first book in a series of books based on real events from the sisters’ childhood. The books follow the adventures of Charlie Tractor™ and his family. They are so much fun for the entire family! Learn more about this adorable and fun children’s book series here!
Discuss the Responsibilities
After you have read Charlie Tractor and Pickles as a family, it’s time to talk about the responsibilities of pet ownership. Make this a fun experience by printing out this free printable coloring page for kids.
As the kids color, talk about how to care for a new puppy. This includes:
- Feeding
- Taking for Walks
- Cleaning Up After Him
- Taking Out for Potty Breaks
- Cleaning Up Accidents
Bonus:
- Kids actually retain more information while doodling while learning. Coloring while you teach them pet care will make the information stay better.
Put It Into Practice
Lastly, put everything kids have learned into practice.
Step 1
First, print out these free printable puppy care sheets. There are two color options for your kiddos:
Step 2
Next, grab a stuffed puppy dog. If your kiddos don’t already have one (or one hundred), pick on up at the Dollar Tree.
Step 3
Also get a food and water dish for the practice puppy. You can simply use 2 plastic bowls you already own for this. No need to go out for any fancy dog bowls.
Step 4
Once everything is set up, have kids perform tasks on the printable checklists each day.
Tips:
- When the kids take out the practice puppy, set a timer for 2 minutes before they can come in. This will help them get used to the time involved.
- Go for actual walks with the kids and practice puppy every day.
- Empty out the food and water bowls each night for kids to refill in the morning.
I’m so glad we read Charlie Tractor and Pickles to start this awesome journey. Now we have a plan for how to practice puppy care with kids and get prepared to be pet owners again.
This is a great way to ease into pets while you finish paying off debt. Don’t forget to grab your copy of Charlie Tractor and Pickles today! It is the perfect book to start the puppy conversation with your kiddos.
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