School's out!

It’s summertime and the living is easy, especially for kids who get a few months off to play before the next year of school begins. With the kids at home much of the day, how will your pet fare? That all depends on your kids, and your pet.

Dogs

If you are like many dog owners, you have a dog who loves to be around kids. Kids are fun! They run, play games and throw the ball. They give dogs lots of attention, and dogs love it.

For these kinds of dogs, having the kids around for the summer is great. Your dog will love having more people in his daily life, and will appreciate the added excitement.

On the other hand, if you have an older dog who spends much of his time on his bed and doesn’t want to play much, he may find it annoying to have kids pestering him all the time. This is where you need to step in and gauge the situation to determine if your dog is really enjoying the attention or not.

If you have a dog that isn’t enjoying the extra attention from the kids, explain to your children that your dog needs some quiet time where he can rest. Supervise all interactions with your kids and the dog—you don’t want your dog to start growling or snapping in an effort to keep kids at bay.

A pitfall for all dogs during the summer, whether they are kid-loving or not, is added calories. Kids are notorious for sharing their food with dogs, and while it’s a nice gesture, these often high-fat, high-sugar treats can cause a dog to put on weight very quickly. Since overweight dogs are at greater risk for a whole host of health problems, you’ll need to monitor your kids when they are eating to make certain your dog isn’t being overfed by his “human siblings.”

Cats

Some cats adore kids, but most find them a bit trying. The vast majority of children mean well when they are pursuing the pet cat for a hug, but often the cat perceives it as harassment. If your cat is an independent type and doesn’t appreciate the affection of children, he may find summer an unpleasant time of the year. You may notice your cat hiding a lot in the house or running from room to room trying to get away from the kids. Or, if he’s allowed outside, you may notice him disappear for hours or even days at a time in an effort to avoid the children.

If this starts to happen, you need to sit down with your kids and try to help them understand that cats need their personal space. Teach your kids to encourage interaction with the cat not by picking him up, but instead by playing with the cat’s favorite toys. Few cats can resist a toy at the end of a string, and even the most kid-fearing cat can be lured out of hiding with the right toy. Take a trip to your local pet store with the kids to pick out some toys you think your cat will enjoy.