Having just bought our very first home together, Craig and I have had lots of conversations about pets recently. Owning our own home opens up so many possibilities not afforded to us as tenants, and a dog has been on our wishlist for a very long time. As the kids are so young, I’m at home full-time, and the new house is close to a conservation area popular with dog walkers, everything seems to be just right. But how will the dynamic change when we introduce a new (albeit considerably hairier) family member to the household? What, if anything, do we need to know before doing so?

I’ve never had a dog before, but Craig had a Golden Labrador called Jason as a child. By all accounts they were the best of mates and Craig enjoyed all the responsibilities that came with dog ownership. But this was the 1970s, when dogs walked themselves, and young kids ran through fields at night to call them back home. Things look very different nowadays, and I’m likely to have social services on the phone if the kids leave the house without me. So, wanting to arm myself with all the facts, I had a chat with natural dog food retailer, Feedem, who took the time to walk me through the many benefits of letting the kids grow up with a pet.

Exercise

If you get a dog, the overall health of your family is likely to improve. Dogs need regular walks come rain or snow, so there’s no excuse for not pulling on your wellies and embracing the changeable British climate. Whether you’ll be lapping a reservoir, or taking the kids to a playscape with an excitable dog in tow, you better be prepared for an outdoor lifestyle and all the messiness this entails.

With increased fitness, comes weight loss and a better immune system to fight off bugs. Although my children are bang on weight-wise, an NHS report has found that in England, 10% of children in their first year of school are obese. I’m heading that way myself, so a dog should help me work off those pesky extra lbs.

Responsibilities

Not only will the introduction of a dog engender a compassion and respect for animals, children will also become more accountable. Learning and assisting with the dog’s routine will (hopefully) give them a sense of what I do everyday as a parent! In fact I’m planning on getting the kids involved with every aspect of caring for our new pet - feeding, grooming and walking will be tasks undertaken by everyone in the household, not just Mummy!

Companionship

Interestingly, when a recent study asked a group of 5-year-old pet owners were asked what they did when they felt sad, angry or afraid, over 40% alluded to their pets. The implication is that having a pet has a positive impact on a child’s emotional development; helping them overcome periods of anxiety, self-comfort, and work through dilemmas. Obviously, the stronger the emotional bond between child and pet, the more pronounced the advantages will be, so we’ll be focusing on dogs with a milder temperament that enjoy being cuddled and fussed over.

Funnily enough another study reveals that dog-owning children also exhibit advanced literacy skills. The idea is that children feel more comfortable reading aloud to a pet than they do another human being. I’ll believe this when I see it, but it’s a really lovely thought.

Allergies

Given Craig has severe allergies, we’ve been focusing on dog breeds that don’t shed (or smell!). I suspect there’ll be a bit of sneezing when we first introduce a dog, but hopefully these will taper off when his immune system gets used to it. More interesting will be how the kids get on allergy-wise. As of yet they are completely untested, having not spent any prolonged period of time around dogs in their lives.

Studies have been carried out to establish the impact of having pets while your children are younger on allergies. Some have established that children who are exposed to pets at a young age can develop more severe allergy symptoms, while others have shown that the exposure has a protective effect with regards to allergens. I guess we’ll soon find how my two fare.

These are just some of the considerations to bear in mind if you are thinking of introducing a dog to a household with young children - but I’d love to hear some of your real-life experiences. Drop me a comment below if you think there’s something else I might need to know.