How Much Do Your Kids Help with Animals?

My 7 y/o feeds Daisy morning and night and picks up after her before we mow. Both are listed on his reward chart. He is also in charge of brushing her but that is not listed, he just does it when I ask him to. He also feeds the cats and the chickens and brings in the eggs.
I am responsible for keeping fresh water available and I took her to doggy school when she was 9 months.
We live on 9 acres and Daisy is free to roam so we don't have the "take the dog for a walk" chore.
Both my 7 y/o and 3 y/o like to help with bathtime.

First off, don't make the dogs "belong to the kids." Huge, huge mistake. The dogs should be the Family Pets. Ownership of the dogs belongs to you and your husband, not the children, and the dogs are members of the family. Your kids are going to be pack-mates to the dogs, not authority figures. You can't expect the kids to maintain dominance or authority and for the dogs to "listen" if the kids are still small and the dogs view them as playmates and siblings.

Decisions about the dogs are made between you and your husband, so if you allow the kids to believe the dogs "belong" to them it's asking for trouble in the future. Especially if you have problems with the dogs and have to surrender one or both of them.

Resign yourself to the fact that you will be responsible for the majority of the care. While a dog is a puppy it's just as much work as a baby. They need training, they have fears, they need a ton of attention, they stay up most of the night... they're just more mobile than human babies. I would make the kids responsible for food and water, since you have to feed more than once a day. Make the kids responsible for cleaning up dog poop in the yard and disposing of it. Take the kids on walks with you and the dogs and have the kids bring the poop scoop and a bag to dispose of the poop on walks. Have them keep track of and put away dog toys. They can help with bathing.

The big, important stuff and the chemical stuff should be your responsibility.

I have 7 & 4 year old girls (not sure how old your kids are) and we have two small dogs (a Boston Terrier and a Chihuahua) and a Guinea Pig. My girls take care of the animals but we do have to remind them every day. They are responsible for feeding/watering them- but my husband and I clean the Guinea Pig's cage and supplies ourselves. My seven-year-old even does baths for the chihuahua. They love to help with the pets and are always willing to do it, but they are too young to really remember on their own. They have it on their chore chart so it's a part of their every day routine but of course I have to remind them that their chore charts are there. haha!

Congrats on your new puppies! Did you choose names?

We raise chickens, for meat and for eggs. We have 3 different flocks right now, and my son (8) lets them out in the morning, gathers the eggs in the afternoon and gives them a scoop of food. If he happens to be playing outside in the evening, we have him shut them in, too.

That sounded like a lot when I typed it, but it really isn't. Buckling and unbuckling the latch, and getting eggs. I expect that he can handle that much.

While the chickens are not his alone, I want him to find value in caring for animals, being proud of the job that he has, and be proud to eat fresh eggs and meat.

When my other 2 little ones get bigger, I expect that they will help also.

By then we may have cows!

My 5 and 7 year old daughters:

-pick up poop (they OFFERED)

-feed him

-make sure he always has water

-brushes him as needed

-assist me in bathing him (turn off the hose, grab a towel, hand me the shampoo)

-sweep up hair off the hard wood (I vacuum)

Honestly, they do more for the dog than I do, I just give him his meds and take him to the vet! We don't have to walk him; we have a fenced in yard.

Congrats on the new additions!

They play with them. :o)

Give him water, play with him, teach him tricks and give him treats. They love to have him sit and shake and now we're working on lay down. They love giving him treats. Also when we were potty training the made sure he peed and/or pooped and gave him praise and a treat. We hold the leash when we take him for a walk. He's a 7 month old labradoodle that weighs 45lbs so hard for a little kid to control if he decides to run.

Both kids also help out with giving the cat water, brushing her and playing with her.

I agree with JessicaWessica. It is a family pet and everyone should do their part. The adults should do the majority of the work.

Not much.

Therefore, train them early.

My boys - 9 and 11 - walk the dog, feed and ensure he has fresh water...they even pick up after them.

I didn't have them walk the dog until they were 8 - just so they could have some "control" over the leash!!

Congratulations on the new additions to your family!!