Having A Dog Fosters Caring, Nuturing

Dogs Help Kids Develop Non-Verbal Communication, Compassion and Empathy.

According to the AACAP* “A good relationship with a pet can also help children in developing non-verbal communication, compassion and empathy.” Pets can be safe listeners to the secrets and private thoughts of children. Pets provide children with information about all phases of life: birth, illness, accidents, injury, death and grief - and teach respect for all living things. *American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry  February 2012

Having A Dog Helps Kids Learn to Care

• Helping you take care of a pet can help a child learn to nurture, connect with other people and become a caring person.  Children need to learn to care for others and establish secure relationships and attachments early in their development. Today’s latchkey kids, mixed families, “alternating households” and play things (when’s the last time you saw a child playing with a baby doll?) don’t foster nurturing but connecting with animals does. Even if your child can't have a pet for whatever reason, they can learn about pets and visit your friend's pets and help them care for their pet.

Having A Dog Helps Kids Read, Communicate

Therapy Dogs Benefit Kids - in Their Class Rooms

Bella, a beautiful (as you may have guessed by her name) Australian Shepherd, is a reading teacher at Desert Knolls Elementary school in Apple Valley, CA! She’s a “reading education assistance dog.” She volunteers by visiting the classrooms and the school library where children read to her. They don’t have to worry that she will correct their pronunciation, she just likes to listen. They get practice reading, It helps them gain confidence and they “adore” Bella. 

Child Psychologist Dr. Frieson conducted a study in 2010 with children and therapy dogs in a class room setting. He found that the animals provide a social and emotional support system for children. Because the animal seems non-judgmental to the child, it is perceived as comforting. Bella, by the way, has her own Facebook page: Read-With-Bella. Please visit and LIKE her page.

Having A Dog - Helps Kids Learn Empathy

Having a Dog Helps Tweens Learn Empathy

Studies show that kids between10 and 12 talk to their parents only 11 to 33 minutes per WEEK! At a time when its critical for them to learn to be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others (developing empathy), this lack of communication with their family is shocking. Dr. Robert E. Bierer’s studied kids with and without dogs. He asked each group 72 questions about their relationships with others. No matter what their ethnicity or background, the 93 children who had dogs showed much more empathy toward others and had more self-esteem than the 33 kids who didn’t have a dog. That's a really good reason for having a family pet! January 2012

Teach Your Kids to Love Pets 10 - Relieves Stress

Teach Your Children to Love Pets – Pets Can Help Kids Through Stressful Times

Children that have traumatic emotional experiences, like the loss of a loved one, or serious medical conditions often cope better when they have an animal to talk to, pet, or cuddle with. One of the most difficult parts of dealing with childhood illness, whether it’s being in the hospital for tests, treatments or a long term stay, is dealing with fear and loneliness. Often there aren’t other children there to share the experience. Having a beloved pet to come home to and cuddle with makes recuperating much easier. For kids that are facing medical or emotional problems and don’t have pets there are therapy dogs that are allowed to visit hospitals and help kids recuperate. It can be especially uplifting for kids if the pet that visits has a physical challenge of its own. Be sure to read the story of Rufus and Tundra on our website www.Kidoodlepets.com  

Teach Your Kids to Love Pets 9 - Share Your Pets

Teach Your Kids to Love Pets

One warm, sunny Saturday morning Sami and I headed to our favorite main street restaurant for breakfast. When we got out of the car the first thing we saw was a man at the sidewalk café eating his breakfast and reading the paper. Next two him were two large, beautiful parrots. One was blue and yellow, the other red and green. They were stunning. We’d only seen parrots like that on television. Sami immediately wanted to go see the parrots. I held her back and told her it would be rude to interrupt the man when he was enjoying his breakfast. “Let’s go have our breakfast and if he’s finished when we come back, we’ll ask him if he will tell us about his parrots.” She reluctantly agreed, not quite sure she wanted to do that, but the puppies in the pet store next door quickly got our attention. We had our pancakes and were on our way back to the car when we saw the man still sitting at the café. As we approached he said, “I’ve been waiting for you. It was so nice of you not to interrupt my meal, I wanted you to meet my parrot friends.” Then he told her about the parrots and how friendly they were. He let her hold one of them – cradling him upside down in her arms, like you’d hold a baby!” What a delightful experience it was for all of us! People who love pets are happy to share their animals.   

Teach Your Kids to Love Pets 8 - Activities for Pets

Teach Your Kids to Love Pets # 8 – Select in an Activity or Sport For Your Pet

As part of the family, Pets deserve to participate in an activity just as much as the kids need to play a sport or learn a musical instrument. We encourage our kids to develop interests in activities that will challenge them cognitively or will develop their small and large muscles and their coordination. Our pets deserve a full life that will also develop their brains and provide the exercise they need to be healthy. 


Some herding dogs are extremely smart and need a lot of exercise. They make good agility contestants or fly ball candidates. Terriers are good at agility too. Many dogs have so much energy they will fetch a ball all day long. Joining a club of other dogs that fetch for fun may be good for them. Bloodhounds are scent hounds and make good search and rescue dogs. A dog with a pedigree would be good for participating in Show Dog Conformation. Some dogs need socialization with other dogs and trips to the dog park are good for them. Learn about the characteristics of your particular dog's breed and find out what the best activity for your dog might be. Teaching children that we need to spend time with our dogs and let them do what they like best is a good lesson that teaches kids how to love pets.


Check out our list of the many sports and activities that you can do with your pet and pick one that suits your family the most. Choose something to do with your pet that will be fun for your family! You’ll meet life long friends. Your kids will see that other people enjoy and value their pets and will witness other families training their pets.