Learning Pawsibilities: Things Kids Learn From Dogs

Both Wendie and I have grown up with dogs, and over the years have come to appreciate the various personalities they bring to our family dynamic. Slow, cuddly and lazy versus the high-energy puppy bouncing that gets our kids excited to come home after school.
But, having dogs and children in the house can at times be overwhelming. That is why so many people choose to give their dog away when they start raising children. They think that the responsibility of caring for both is too much. However, this is not always the case. One lesson we learned is that our dogs can actually teach our kids a thing or two. Seriously, they sometimes make better teachers than us, though we would never admit it to the kids. We call these learning pawsibilities.
Learning Pawsibilities: Things Kids Learn From Dogs
-Loyalty and Love: Perhaps the greatest of the learning pawsibilities. The devotion portrayed by dogs is
not easily matched. To dogs, loyalty comes naturally. When your dog wags its
tail and looks happy every time your child is around, your child will be able
to develop self-esteem and confidence.
-Exercise: Children and dogs need physical activity.
Physical activity helps your child and dog stay mentally and emotionally balanced. You can have your child join you when walking the dog. They could
play fetch or just romp in the backyard all afternoon.
-Reading: You probably think that this is not possible,
but it actually is. According to research, dogs can help a child improve his
reading skills. How? If your child struggles to read, she will be more
comfortable reading around an audience that does not judge him thereby
improving his skills.
-Compassion and patience: When dogs grow old, they
need more attention and care. When your child understands this, she will learn
to be compassionate and patient. This will also help them live in peace around
people with disabilities.
-Responsibility: Involve your child in the process of
caring for your dog. That way, she will learn to be responsible. Allow your
child to feed your dog under supervision.
So how can you get your untrained dog to help your
child with a lifetime of learning pawsibilities? The answer is simple. Look for a dog trainer.
Your Dog Trainer: Master of Learning Pawsibilities
You have many options to choose from when it comes to training.
There are some dogs that will learn the basics on spending time with family
while others will learn rescue work. There are different types of dog trainings
available. They include:
Behavioral training: This
training teaches your dog to behave properly around other animals and people. The
behavioral problems mostly addressed include chewing, excessive barking or even
housebreaking. This training is most appropriate for younger dogs.
Agility training: This type of training is for a dog
that will participate in sports. The sports include, but are not limited to,
jumping, racing and obstacle courses. This training takes place after the dog
understands basic commands. It also helps to create a strong bond between the
dog and its owner.
Vocational training: This is the type of training that
gives your dog skills that will help it help others. The skills learned include
assisting the disabled, herding, rescue work, and even hunting. In this type of
training, dogs learn specific techniques that hone their communication skills
with humans.
Dogs are amazing creatures because they can actually
save lives. The good thing is that all dogs can learn despite their background
and breed. However, there are some breeds that will find it much easier to do
some things because of their physical characteristics.
Having a well behaved dog is easy especially if your
dog keeps looking forward to being rewarded instead of being punished. That is
why you should also consider positive reinforcement as it is great for
strengthening the bond you have with your canine.
The sky will be the limit should you find a qualified
dog trainer to help establish your pets learning pawsibilities. You will also enjoy your dog’s company more when it has been well
trained.

Being a dog family is part of who we are, and would never consider a homesteading life without them. As companions, teaches and loving pets, they are part of our family.
We love sharing our family homesteading adventures with you all, and look forward to hearing your dog trainer and learning pawsibilities in the comments below.
What did you learn from dogs growing up? Also, don't forget to subscribe for more daily homesteading goodness!
Being a dog family is part of who we are, and would never consider a homesteading life without them. As companions, teaches and loving pets, they are part of our family.
We love sharing our family homesteading adventures with you all, and look forward to hearing your dog trainer and learning pawsibilities in the comments below.
What did you learn from dogs growing up? Also, don't forget to subscribe for more daily homesteading goodness!
Comments
I completely agree- our kids love feeding the animals, though getting the chickens done at 6 am on a January morning isn't the most fun thing in the world. But you can bet our 4 year year old Bailey Girl with be right there with them. She by my side all day, even dropping off the girls and picking them up from school.
We've been an adult dog rescue family for some time, and even as a kid I don't think we ever raised and trained puppies. Our dogs find us and we love them all the more for it:)