Our special guest today is a personal fav: Dr Robert Blaylock, who’s been a practicing veterinarian for almost 30 years and who also is the father of my children.
We want to talk today about kids and pets. There’s this nostalgic vision of the iconic “boy and his dog” or “girl and her pony” thing that we have in America. I don’t know if that’s a Norman Rockwell sort of creation or if that’s a mostly western concept?
A recent study from the petfood industry found that globally, Argentina (82%), Mexico (81%) and Brazil (76%) have the highest rates of overall pet ownership among 22 countries surveyed. Dogs are the most popular in all three.
The US ranks FIFTH for pet ownership. Almost ¾ of us have at least one pet, with 50% owning dogs and 39% owning cats.
What were our experiences growing up and raising our own kids with pets:
Renee?
Bonnie: horses, Bob—dogs. Our family menagerie (fish, frogs, hamsters, guinea pig, hedgehog, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, chickens)
Bob: We all heard about everyone getting puppies during the pandemic. Something like 1 in 5 families added a dog or cat in 2020. (Just in our circle of people, we know so many new dog owners!) Have you seen evidence of that? (Given what sort of effect 2020 et. al had on so many of us, maybe it’s not surprising so many turned to pets.):
In a book I read recently (about addiction of all things), getting a pet was mentioned as a way to manage a child’s risk for substance abuse. It was really saying pets are one way to help kids (and adults) to come to terms with stressors, trauma, etc… (p. 97, The Addiction Inoculation)
Human-animal interactions have to been shown to improve mood, behavior, & interpersonal interactions; reduce symptoms of stress (raised cortisol levels), high BP, and elevated heart rate, reduce negative behaviors like aggression; enhance trust levels and empathy, and enhance learning! Many of these effects are from oxytocin, a hormone released when we experience relational interactions (breastfeeding, cuddling, sex, petting an animal…).
Oxytocin increases eye contact, face memory, trust, and generosity. It’s as close an antidote as we may find to aggression. The closer the human-animal bond, the more oxytocin is released, so petting your own dog is more calming than petting someone else’s.
Also dogs need exercise, increasing the chance their owners will exercise, too. The odds of getting enough exercise are between 57-77% higher among dog owners.
The book suggests that if you can’t get your own dog b/c of allergies or b/c it would add stress to the home, maybe have your child/teen pet-sit or dogwalk for others.
Been seeing a big increase in “emotional support animals.” Can you address that?
Lots of programs proven that animals in a children’s hospital setting improves mood, healing. Or using horses to help nonverbal kids improve motor skills, emotional interactions…
Bob: Do you have any examples/stories of positive pet-child interactions/relationships? Ways having or caring for a pet helped in a situation?
What do you think pets can teach children?
Loss (examples…) How we handled all the pets… (the one time I changed the fish’s water before we went to the movie)
Responsibility (examples…) This is a big one with kids, b/c it’s a familiar theme that the kid begs for a puppy or kitten and promises to do ANYTHING for it, and then it falls to mom to remind about the feeding, walking, cleaning up after, etc. This is a big reason some people don’t get pets…there’s a LOT of care involved. (who remembers & carries out the vet visits? Who makes sure the water bowl is full or fish tank is clean, or that the guinea pig has its Vitamin C?
Empathy (some child counselors strongly suggest getting a dog. Many clients report their dog is their best friend & who they tell all their feelings to)
Conquering a Fear. What do you tell parents/families whose kids might be afraid of animals/dogs? What are some basic “dog & cat etiquette” rules families can teach young ones? (animal behavior to watch for)
Bob: In a lot of families, the pet comes first (like a dry run for having a child). What do you recommend when you introduce a new baby to the You, Me & the Dog (Cat) mix?
How to choose? Goldfish or Pony? I would obv advocate for the pony, but that’s not an option if you’re in a 2 bd apartment.
What kinds of pets are best for kids? Should you start small…with a beta fish or hamster?
Say you settle on a dog. What are kid-friendly dog breeds? (You get that one a lot).
What do you need to consider before bringing home that cute puppy or kitten? (shedding, know some property will probably be destroyed—chewing, clawing, etc.; know housebreaking may take a while).
Does everyone need to be on board about a pet in the house? Or will the holdout eventually warm up to it once it comes home?
How much TIME does a pet require? So many families are BUSY BUSY BUSY with both parents working and kids in school, activities, etc. Who’s home to let the dog out? (Rental properties might prohibit pets…one reason animals go back to shelters.)
Average annual cost of a dog/cat? (fencing, vet care, food, supplies, boarding when you go out of town or pet sitting); pet insurance?
In so many cases, the dog/cat grows with the child in the family (esp if you get a dog when your child is young—elementary age). Then, it’s not uncommon, after 12-13 years, when your kid leaves for college or leaves home, the pet is elderly and the inevitable happens. It’s so hard when you have to call your teenager/young adult and tell them the news about Spot or Fluffy.
At least 3 of our close friends have been in this situation….navigating their own empty nest and kind of going through a grief process about their kids being gone, and then to top it all off, the dog dies and it’s like an extra blow you have to weather.
Should you just get another puppy? (Need to weigh your goals/time commitment)
Great reference for pet questions: petplace.com