Having kids is one of life’s greatest miracles and blessings.
It brings with it a whole new lifestyle and responsibilities that often take over most of our days and even nights. This can leave our fur babies feeling less than important and could lead to torn up shoes, couches, unexpected and unwanted surprises left indoors, poor behavior, and resentment. In order to avoid all of this, it’s best, as with all things after kids come, to find a balance in life.
Here are few tips to make sure that the whole family is getting attention:
- Go for regular walks with the whole family. A jogging stroller can make it easier to carry doggy bags and diapers for a quick change.
- Engage the kids in the fur baby chores such as feeding the animals and keeping them watered.
- Water games are great for canines. Put the kids in bathings suits, and give the dogs a bath outside with the kids playing in a kiddy pool or enjoying the sprinklers.
- Learn colors, sizes, and breeds by visiting local dog parks.
- On your next trip to Home Depot, Lowes, or Petco, bring the whole family! All of these stores are dog-friendly.
- Visit a local brewery that is dog-friendly and kid-friendly. Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery often have lots of dog-friendly and family-friendly events on the weekends.
- Enroll in a basic obedience class. It’s great for socialization, and the kids will LOVE being able to take ownership of teaching their pups the way they’re taught in school.
- Find a doggy day care or a pet sitter that can come in and spend time with your animal during the day.
- Schedule 15 minutes of play time dedicated to your animal in the evenings.
Making a priority and a habit out of including the whole family, animals included, can instill more responsibility for your children and even do wonders for their immune systems (see Introducing Fido to the New Baby).
Let us know which tips you tried and what worked for you!
Post photos of you and your furry family on Instagram and tag @richmondmomsblog.
