This post is sponsored by Baxter’s
I can’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t had a pet. From the time I was a baby, our family has always had animals. Dogs, cats, fish, birds, we’ve had them all. It’s just weird to think of our home being without an animal.
I knew that when we had kids, they would always have pets.
Kids with pets are less likely to have asthma and allergies; they’re more likely to have higher self-esteem, cognitive development and social skills; they’re less likely to be lonely. Pets are amazing at calming hyperactive kids and they encourage kids to get outside and get moving, meaning they’re less likely to be overweight.
We have a cat but she wants nothing to do with our kids. As Thud grew and Pop arrived, I started to feel all those wonderful benefits of kids having pets slipping away from us. I may have read one too many articles about child psychopaths and felt an overwhelming desire to force ALL the animals on my children so they could learn some empathy and respect for our four legged friends.
But, just as all hope was lost, my parents moved to Canberra – just down the road from us – with their little dogs and suddenly my kids had two furry best friends to smother with all their previously unrequited love and attention.
We see them almost every day and the kids have never been happier.
Billy the Bichon Frise is the world’s most tolerant dog
Some of Pop’s first words were around finding and giving food to the dogs. No matter how often we told her they didn’t want to eat Arrowroot biscuits (ok, they totally did want to eat arrowroot biscuits).
Apart from the fun bits, we love letting the kids take some responsibility for the dogs. It makes them feel important and teaches them empathy.
Thud adores taking the dogs for runs in the park. His anxiety is nowhere to be seen when he has those pups by his side. They’re built in friends and protectors.
The kids also love feeding the dogs and the routine of getting out their plates and dragging the food out of the pantry is one of their favourite things to do. I can see them learning and understanding what it is to care for someone other than themselves. Thud knows when it’s time to feed the dogs and will tell us when the dogs look hungry.
He loves feeling important and useful and he knows exactly how much needs to be dished out
He’s learnt that animals have feelings and needs just like humans. Thud’s an anxious little kid but his exposure to the dogs means he has no fear of animals. I wonder how he’d be if they hadn’t been in his life.
Thud and Pop both dished out some Baxter’s wet and dry food for Banjo and Billy recently and the dogs loved it. We also handed out some Dental Sticks because their breath is not adorable and thankfully they loved them.
Feeding the dogs has become their little ritual and we know the dogs secretly love all the fuss and attention.
Baxter’s Dog Food is available exclusively at Woolworths.
Its range of wet food and dry food is nutritionally complete with no artificial colours or flavours and will aid digestion, bolster the immune system and ensure strong healthy bones.
The treats and chews are delicious and help to clean teeth and gums so you can do something about that dog breath.
Don’t forget that when you are switching your dog’s diet, it’s important to transition feed, gradually introducing the food over three to 10 days to ensure it doesn’t upset their sensitive tummy.
Pop some into your next online order so you don’t have to lug that bag of dry food up the stairs!
4 comments
I have always had a dog, since the day I was born. Our family dog growing up was my furry bestie. Being an only child for almost 7 years before my brother came along, our Border Collie Trumby was always by my side. From my bassinet to my cot, my bouncer to my wobbly steps, he was always there. Because we had a dog I was never ‘bored’ or lonely. It is so important to me that Parker grows up with a dog. When I was pregnant my best-dog-in-the-world started to age dramatically. I asked her selfishly that she hang around until ‘this kid’ was born. She held up her end of the bargain, and we only just let her go two weeks before his second birthday. We have a lunatic Beagle that is more my ‘demon child’ but Parker adores her completely and runs to the back door to say goodnight before bed every day.
It really is the best bond to watch develop (we have two cats, they give zero f*%$s about us), and Parker’s giggle when he is playing with Lara the Beagle is all the convincing I need that we must always have a dog in this home.
Oh goodness this is just beautiful Megan ❤️ and how lucky are these kids to have their furry friends?
We have always had dogs and they have been such an important part of our family. It is great when they are little for all the reasons that you mentioned in your post but it was also so helpful when our (anxious) little boy became a teenager. He would come home from school with a thunderous look on his face and go straight to where the dog was, lie on the floor with her and just stroke her gently. She didn’t ask him questions about how his day was, what was wrong etc, she was just happy to lay with him. It was such a wonderful stress reliever for him and he didn’t need to explain anything to her about why he was feeling anxious, she was just happy to let him be until he was ready to face the world again. He is 25 now and she is 15 and he still gets down and lays with her when he visits but now it is to calm her old age dog anxiety.
Oh Lynne, this actually makes me feel a bit teary. I can absolutely see how a dog is a wonderful safe place for a kid under stress. They never ask for anything from us and never expect us to be anything other than us. How perfect for a kid with anxiety.