Pet Projects
Chores and fun combine to help children bond with their pets

by Shari Hegland

Children and animals seem like a natural match. From playing Frisbee in the backyard to helping with grooming and feeding, interaction between children and pets helps build a lifetime bond.

Laurie Haake, owner of the Family Dog Center in La Crosse, says family bonding and learning can begin as soon as the dog—or in some cases, the child—comes home.

Her business, which offers a wide range of training courses and seminars, is starting a new “Bringing Home Baby” class to help current dog owners and expectant parents prepare their pet for a new baby in the house. For new four-legged family members, there are puppy classes that involve the entire family and obedience classes for older dogs.

“If you have a well-mannered dog, you are going to spend more time with it because you will enjoy its company,” Haake says. “You will feel more confident going out in public with it, or taking it on vacation.”

Start pet care early
Children can begin taking a part in a pet’s care from a young age, with parental guidance and supervision.

“I feel the earlier you can involve the children with everyday activities, the better, and it will also strengthen the bond with the children,” Haake says.

Even toddlers can help measure food into the dog’s dish while a parent holds the dish, or hold the end of the leash as the family goes for a walk. Children can assist in cleaning up the yard or learning to groom the dog. As they get older and are more able to handle responsibility, they can move on to walking the dog, assisting with training, and being responsible for more caregiving.

Haake says children also can learn how to properly give a dog a treat, after asking the dog to do some task or trick.

“Get children involved as early as possible,” she says. “It creates a greater chance that the animal will really become a part of the family.”

Keep pets involved
And once that bond is created, a pet can be a part of almost any family activity, says Heather Schmid, executive director of the Coulee Region Humane Society in Onalaska.

“Even cats can be taken outside for walks with a leash and harness system,” Schmid says, if it is not stressful for them. She suggests starting out in the backyard to gradually introduce them to the concept.

Dogs can come along on trips to the park (if dogs are allowed and are on a leash), and can even travel with the family if there are appropriate accommodations.

Inside the home, include the animal in family story time or groom them while watching TV or spending time as a family.

“Have the pet with you in whatever you are doing and to the level that works with both you and (the pet),” Schmid said.

Or take the bonding one step further with a dog camp, which Haake says are gaining popularity around the country. Here in the Coulee Region, Family Dog Center offers “Just Me and My Dog,” a day camp for kids and their dogs to learn about safety, obedience, crafts, cooking, and more.

Teaching people and pets
The Coulee Region is full of teaching opportunities for both people and pets.

A few to consider:
• Coulee Region Humane Society offers puppy classes, basic obedience classes, puppy play parties and a Canine Good Citizen Class. All but the Canine Good Citizen course are free. They also have monthly movie matinees showing videos by well-known trainers on a number of topics, which are suitable for both children and adults. For more information, call the Humane Society at 781-4014 or go to couleehumane.org.

• Family Dog Center in La Crosse offers private training, group classes, seminars and more to help families and their dogs learn and bond. Call 779-3647 or visit familydogcenter.com for more information.

• Pet Me Scratch Me in Onalaska offers a variety of training and classes. Call 781-9663 or visit petme-scratchme.com.

• Sue Butler K9 Training offers in-home training for pets and people. Call 457-2757 or visit butlerk9training.com.

Freelance writer Shari Hegland lives in Holmen with her husband and 1-year-old son. Though there are no four-legged family members now, she grew up in a two-dog, more-barn-cats-than-you-can-count household.