ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601220001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Paws & Claws
SOURCE: JILL BOWEN
Q: Our youngest child is now 2 years old, and her elder brother keeps asking us to get him a dog. We have a large fenced yard, so keeping one would be no problem.
Do you think our children are too young to have a dog?
Where could we get one other than a pet shop?
What sort of dog ought we think about getting?
A: Children benefit tremendously from growing up with pets.
A recent study found that ``people raised with a pet showed much greater social responsibility, personal adjustment and better social skills.''
Even toddlers relate well to dogs and cats.
An excellent place to find the ideal family dog is your local humane shelter, which will have a wide variety of dogs available and will be able to advise on their suitability for being with children.
If you have plenty of room, one of the best breeds for being ``good'' with children is the Labrador retriever.
Personally, I prefer a female to a male dog, as they are less aggressive and are easier to train.
One thing that is vitally important is to have your pet neutered, as there are far too many unwanted kittens and puppies around.
A neutered pet is also far more pleasant to have as a house pet; as you will not have to contend with the inconvenience of a female in season.
Males may also neutered, and this makes them easier to train, reduces unpleasant behavior and makes them less aggressive and territorial.
It is also important to make sure that your pet is taken to a veterinarian to receive all necessary shots.
You should protect your new pet from the various canine and feline diseases that are endemic in most urban and rural areas.
State law also requires inoculation against rabies. Virginia is suffering from an increased incidence of rabies, so it is doubly important to make sure your pet is fully vaccinated.
Remember that if you see a wild animal that is behaving abnormally (for example, a skunk or raccoon that is about in daylight and shows no fear of either you or your pet), do not approach it, but take everyone indoors and call the animal control officer. Treatment for rabies for you is not a pleasant experience.
If you have a question for Jill Bowen, please write to her in care of the New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or send e-mail to Currentbev.net.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB