Have your children been begging for a dog? Give in and let them have one! Having a dog is one of the best things you can do for your children. Dogs teach kids compassion and empathy, and they give the children a sense of security. Did you know that seventy per cent of children confide in their dogs? They promote social interaction, too. Dogs make your kids feel great because these incredible pets give unconditional love. Your children can even learn how to be more responsible individuals by owning a pet. However, where the emotional part of dog ownership just seems to happen naturally, the responsibility part may need to be directed by adults. From cleaning up messes to obedience training, here are some ideas that might help you.

Getting Started - Have a family meeting where you will give the good news that your family will be joined by a new puppy. This is the perfect time to let the kids know what will be expected of them as they care for the new family member.

• If you only have one child, it will obviously be easy to assign duties. If you have several children, it might be good to have a set chore routine where each child has a turn at things like putting out food and water, exercising the dog and, the most fun part, cleaning up doggy messes! 
• Whether you plan to buy your puppy at a shelter or at a pet store, it might be best for you to leave the kids at home. If you take your kids with you, they're going to go crazy over every dog they see, and there might be supreme sadness over leaving dogs behind.
• Also, think about naming the dog yourself. Otherwise, kids are going to have their feelings hurt when the name they wanted isn't picked.
• Shop together for dog bowls, a crate, bedding, toys and other things that the puppy will need right when it arrives at your house.

Obedience Training - Let your children know right away that both the puppy and your family will be happiest when you have a well-behaved dog. You can train your puppy yourself. Basically, praise for good behavior and use your hands only for loving and for gentle directions. A really great thing to do is to enroll your dog in obedience training. Encourage the kids to join you as your dog goes to classes so that they'll know how to continue the training at home. Your dog will usually be in classes with other dogs. The instructors will amaze you at how they know just the way your dog will react to different commands. Dog training will require an investment of time and money, but every minute and every penny will be worth it when you have a dog that knows how to act politely. After learning the basic commands, you can even teach your dog tricks, using the same methods that were used for basic training. For obedience training, contact a business such as Levenson Barb Dog Training Centers.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures of the different stages of puppyhood.