My Pet is NOT a Toy (and Other Rules of Dog Ownership)

Table of Contents

Introduction

The first time I got a dog, I didn’t know what to do. I’d been living by myself for years, and suddenly this animal was relying on me and my family to take care of it. It seemed like such an overwhelming task—except that my dog was so excited about the whole thing! We were both so thrilled by our new adventure that we didn’t realize how much work would actually be involved. But now that we’ve been through several different types of dogs together, we’ve learned some hard truths about caring for them: especially when it comes to training them properly or making sure they’re safe from harm.”

“You’re going to want to get a dog”

For the record, I’m a dog lover. I’ve always wanted to be one and still do. Dogs are amazing companions and can help you meet new people, stay active, find comfort in your own home, and even make you laugh.

But there’s an important caveat if you’re considering getting a dog: You need to be responsible for that animal. If it is not your responsibility or if the owner refuses responsibility for their pet’s actions then it’s not fair to treat that animal as just another toy or accessory in your life.

“I just want a puppy!”

You’re probably thinking, “I just want a puppy!” Well, you’re going to have to be prepared if you get one. Puppies are cute and they are the cutest thing ever and they will make your heart melt into pieces of fluff, but they have a lot of energy! And puppies need to be trained! They also need socializing in order for them to grow into well-adjusted adult dogs who aren’t afraid of new things or people. You’ll also need to pay attention to their health and make sure that they are fed regularly and given plenty of water (although sometimes puppies can be very picky about what kind of food they eat). And last but not least: puppies need their daily walks!

“What kind of dog should I get?”

A dog is a great pet, but they are a lot of work. You need to train your dog, and if you’re not consistent with training, your dog will become aggressive. If you have children, you have to be careful about what types of dogs you get because some breeds can be aggressive around kids. You also have to consider how much time and energy it takes to take care of the dog. If you are single or live alone with no other adults in your household, then maybe a smaller breed would be better for your situation than a larger breed.

“I can’t afford a dog!”

If money is an issue, don’t get a dog. Owning a pet can be expensive and could be a financial burden on you. There are many costs associated with pet ownership, such as food and vet bills, grooming and training classes. You should also consider the cost of toys and other supplies for your new friend. If you cannot afford to take care of your dog then do not rush into getting one because that would be unfair to both you and your pet.

“My dog is my best friend.”

When you adopt a dog, they become your best friend. If you are lucky, they will be more than just a pet; they’ll be your companion, family member, and even protector. Dogs can also be very loyal to their owners and have an innate desire to please us that makes them excellent companions—although they can get into trouble if left alone too long without exercise or stimulation from the outside world.

As someone who has had several dogs over my lifetime (and currently owns two), I know this firsthand. My dogs love me unconditionally; when someone knocks on my door at night I hear them barking at me from inside their crate until I come let them out before answering whoever is there! They protect me against strangers who may appear threatening (even though one of mine is small). And even though all he does is sleep most days now that he’s old—he still loves playing with me whenever we go out together for walks in the park nearby our house where we live on Long Island in New York City suburbs (it’s great exercise!).

“My dog is my therapist.”

Pets are great for helping people stay healthy. They can help us relax, providing a sense of calm and comfort. And when you’re feeling stressed out, your dog will be there to cuddle up with you and just be super adorable (not to mention provide an extra dose of unconditional love).

Dogs are good listeners. Dogs have been found to be very good listeners, which makes them perfect companions if you need someone to talk to. Your dog won’t judge your feelings or opinions—they’ll just listen and try their best to understand what you’re saying.
Pets reduce stress levels in humans by lowering blood pressure and reducing heart rate as well as decreasing cortisol levels (the stress hormone).
The benefits of pet ownership go beyond physical health—they also contribute positively towards mental health by giving owners an outlet for daily activities that can help improve cognitive function such as problem solving skills or memory recall.”

“My dog is more important than any human.”

I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Maybe growing up, or from a friend in college or maybe even from your mom. You know what she means: dogs are not humans’. Dogs are not property. They’re not toys or friends or therapists or children.

Plus, some people who have pets have different ideas about what that means for ownership. Some people believe that their pets should be treated like family members and given the same rights as any other person—just because they’re not human doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of the same respect and care as a human would receive!

But others believe that having a pet is similar to having another child: it takes time, energy, money and resources just to keep them alive while they’re living with us so we need to treat them well while they’re here but once they die (or get sick), there’s no point in crying over spilled milk anymore because hey at least we had someone good around who made our lives easier…right?

“It’s okay if I use my dog as a therapy tool.”

It’s okay to use your dog as a therapy tool.
Dogs are not therapists, but they can be trained to be therapy dogs.
Dogs can help with depression, but they don’t treat it.

“My kids don’t need to know the rules of dog ownership.”

Wrong. Your kids have to learn how to behave around dogs, and they need to be taught how to train a dog. For example, I recently had a conversation with someone who said that he didn’t want his child walking his dog because “he’s too young.” This is ridiculous; children should be trained in the proper way for a couple reasons: 1) It helps them learn responsibility or 2) It teaches them empathy toward animals (because if your kid gets bit by a dog, odds are it’s not going to hurt as bad as it would if an adult got bit).

“My kids need to know they’re the boss at home”

As the parent of a child, you need to teach them that their new pet is not a toy. You should also make them understand that pets have feelings just like people do and they shouldn’t be treated like toys. If your kids are able to understand this and show respect for their pet, it will make life easier on everyone in the house.

It’s important that your kids know how to properly train their pets so they can live together peacefully. Your children will need to learn how dogs should behave around smaller animals and children if they don’t want any problems while living with each other. Teaching your kids about potty training by example when it comes down to potty training their own dog would be helpful as well!

“They can play with other dogs, right?”

Your dog is a social animal. They need to play with other dogs. Not only can they learn from each other, but they can also help each other out when it comes to training issues and health problems.

But there are some things you need to think about before you send your pet off on an adventure with another furry friend:

Is the other dog healthy? If not, there’s a chance that your pet could catch something from them. You’ll want to make sure that your dog isn’t exposed to any diseases or parasites from the other animal (and vice versa). This will help keep both parties safe and happy!
Are both of their personalities compatible? Just like people, dogs’ personalities vary widely—some are more outgoing while others are shy or aggressive towards strangers—so don’t assume that just because two canines get along well in one scenario means it will always be so simple for them later on down the road!

“It’s okay for my kids to pull on my dogs ears.”

How many times have you heard someone say, “It’s okay for my kids to pull on my dogs ears”?

I’ve heard this a lot. I’m sure you have too. And it makes me cringe every time.

Why? Because pulling on a dog’s ears is not okay, and doing so will only cause pain and fear in your pet, both of which can lead to aggression issues down the road.

First off, let’s be clear: no one should ever pull on their dog’s ears unless he/she is trying to remove ticks or mites from them (and even then they should just use tweezers). So why shouldn’t I let my children do this? Well…

“My kids can go up to any dog and cuddle them…”

When you are teaching your kids about dogs, it’s important to give them a healthy respect for the fact that dogs are not toys. If a dog comes up to your child and they reach out their hand to pet him or her, they may be bitten because the owner of the dog has not taught their pet how to properly interact with strangers.

Your children should never approach any dog without permission from either you or its owner first. In addition, when you allow them to play with other people’s pets (e.g., at a friend’s house), make sure that you are supervising them closely so that no accidents happen—and if someone else is supervising them closely instead of you, make sure that person understands good safety practices too!

“…even if the dog is leashed or in a car or at a restaurant or in its own house?”

You’re at the beach with your dog, or walking down the street. There are children running around and people everywhere. It’s hard to keep track of where everyone is, but you know that it would be rude to let your dog roam freely without a leash.

So what do you do?

The answer lies in respecting your pet’s space and boundaries. Your pet may not like being bothered by strangers or children who want to play with them when they are not in the mood for it (and even then, it can be difficult for dogs to tell us what they want). Letting them roam free could result in someone accidentally kicking them or stepping on their paws – both painful experiences! The same goes for getting pulled on by adults who are excited about meeting a new friend; this can cause pulling injuries that make walking difficult later on down the road (not something most dogs enjoy). In addition, both children and adults alike tend not to have good control over their body movements which increases the risk of injury from accidental collisions between people + dogs + other objects like bicycles/cars/park benches etcetera).

“…even if the dog is visibly barking and trying to get away from them?”

Dogs are not toys. This is a big one, and one that many people don’t think about when they get a dog. Dogs can be extremely playful, but playing with them is different than playing with an actual toy. A toy has no feelings or emotions—a dog does! When you’re playing with your dog, be sure to keep in mind that they’re not just objects for you to use as you see fit; they’re living beings capable of feeling joy and pain just like any other person or pet would.

If your dog is barking at someone who’s walking past your house on the sidewalk or knocking on the door for some reason, don’t assume that all dogs like everyone else—some dogs do, some don’t! You should always ask permission before interacting with someone else’s animal (and vice versa). This rule applies whether it’s someone coming over to visit or an unexpected visitor dropping by unexpectedly–it doesn’t matter what kind of relationship either party has had in the past; asking permission first will ensure both parties feel comfortable during their interaction together going forward.”

It’s all about respect when you’re living with, working with, and training animals (especially dogs).

Respect the dog’s space.

Respect the dog’s body language and vocalizations.

Respect the dog’s needs.

Respect the dog’s ability to make decisions.

Respect the dog’s ability to learn and obey commands at his own pace without undue pressure being put on him by humans who think they know best.

Conclusion

It’s not easy to teach your kids about respect for animals, but it’s important. We hope you found this article helpful in teaching your kids about the rules of dog ownership.