Pets And Babies: Lessons From Dogs And Cats For Kids [PHOTOS]

"Can Fido and Whiskers enrich children’s lives?" a New York Times blogger asked recently. For plenty of pet-owning parents, the logical follow-up question is: "Was there ever any doubt?"

Studies cited by the Times found that "perinatal pets, especially dogs, may reduce the development of allergic disease" and "walking a dog may contribute to a physically active lifestyle" -- but mostly, "research is still limited." However, many believe there are broader lessons kids (and, let's face it, even adults) can learn from animal interaction.

It's hard to grow up persnickety about your appearance if there's a mud-loving, fun-seeking dog traipsing in and out of the house. A loyal cat can teach kids the value of quiet companionship, while a friendly pet (of either sort) sets a good example by purposefully seeking out and winning over uncomfortable guests. And don't forget that living with a pet makes children mindful of the neatness and relative safety of their surroundings -- since pets, like toddlers, are likely to get themselves into trouble if you give them the tools they need.

Below is a list from the HuffPost Parents community of the most important values children can draw from household dogs and cats (based on fairly nonscientific observation) along with their adorable photos. Click to add your own or tell us what we missed in the comments!

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• Hug Tight

  "[My dog taught my baby] How to love." -- Sarah W. Babies and toddlers are already expert cuddlers. The hope, of course, is that by having a snuggable furry friend in the house, the chances of kids enjoying hugs and kisses from mommy <em>after</em> the age of 10 might increase -- by at least one squeeze per week.

• Share

  "We refer to [our son] as 'the dog whisperer.' Having a dog has taught him to share (especially at dinner time)!" - Sadie K. Pets, unlike kids, never really grow out of needing to be taken care of. Which means children learn how to care for another living creature, even when it means giving up a beloved stuffed animal when it is commandeered to be a teething toy -- or some precious floor space.

• Imagine

  "My daughter has learned how to crawl with the help of our dog, as well as how to bark (and unfortunately beg)." - Bonnie L. We already know that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/22/dogs-looking-out-windows_n_1217385.html" target="_hplink">dogs love to look out the window</a>. And, when kids take the time to gaze outside with a four-legged friend, they're learning an important skill -- how to tune out everyday noise and get lost in a daydream.

• Relax

  Pets teach kids that meaningful experiences don't always need to involve conversation. A quiet afternoon with a playful cat or lazy puppy shows children that there's more to relationships than words: just being together -- watching, listening, and caring for another person or animal -- is enough.

• Beam

  Dogs smile. Cats are curious about the world around them. (Sometimes <em>too</em> curious.) Nobody says you have to be happy all the time -- but would you rather your kid grew up to idolize teenage nonchalance, or the boundless enthusiasm of your family pet?

• Take A Good Nap

  "[My dog teaches my baby] to feel safe." -- Sarah H. For the love of Mom and Dad, take a good nap. And may solid daytime sleep lead you to restful nights. While babies may have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Go-F-Sleep-Adam-Mansbach/dp/1617750255" target="_hplink">a bad reputation</a> for not learning this lesson well, seeing their animal friends -- who are nap masters -- just might help them learn how important it is to get a solid <a href="http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/sleep-children" target="_hplink">10 to 12 hours of sleep every night until the age of 12</a>. (That's when kids, like grown-ups, start to need only the standard eight.)

• Step Up

  "My kids have learned patience, kindness, and responsiblity from our pets. They have also, sadly, learned about death. ... Sad to lose our sweet pets, but a good introduction into the idea of life and death for our kids." - Kirstin Mix As Lindsay Cross wrote in a blog post on Mommyish, <a href="http://mommyish.com/childrearing/newsflash-pets-dont-just-help-social-skills-they-teach-responsibility-458/" target="_hplink">one of the most obvious lessons kids learn from having pets is responsibility</a>. Cross writes: "Having two dogs to take care of has taught my daughter an amazing amount of responsibility that I might never have been able to instill this early on." Parents who succeed in getting their children to take on key pet-rearing tasks will teach their children the importance of reliability (oh yeah, and get out of feeding the dog every once in a while).

• Make Friends (And Don't Bite Your Friends)

  "Dogs know if you're scared of them" -- we've all heard that before. Whether or not there's science to back it up, to pet owners -- and certainly, to people who are actually afraid of dogs -- it seems true. Pets often win over so-called "scaredy-cats," if given enough time. The lesson: Fend off your instinct to lash out at someone who doesn't understand you, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/devon-corneal/when-my-son-became-a-biter_b_1379832.html" target="_hplink">even if you're going through a biting phase</a>. Look out for people who feel uncomfortable (new kids at school, for instance) -- and show them that you think they're worth getting to know.

• Play Hard

  "Outdoor play is beneficial for motor development, vision, cognition, Vitamin D levels and mental health," Pooja Tandon, of Seattle Children's Research Institute <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/preschool-activities_n_1401221.html" target="_hplink">recently told The Huffington Post</a>. Get a dog or an outdoors cat, and the time your family spends outside will likely increase exponentially -- first out of necessity, but more and more out of pure enjoyment. For one thing, there's no mistaking the joy on an animal's face when he or she is liberated from the confines of a stuffy house. The dog-walking and ball-throwing that start as chores will probably turn into family tradition or routine. At a time when <a href="http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/archpediatrics.2011.1835" target="_hplink">fewer children are getting to play outside</a>, the increased exercise will be a huge added plus.

• Stretch

  Because it feels good. Because <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/kid-scoop/2012/02/22/kids-should-be-doing-yoga/?pid=3970#slideshow" target="_hplink">little muscles need to be properly cared for</a>. Because in a metaphorical sense, it means that you should always go just a little bit outside of your comfort zone. Who better to teach kids the very essential skill of stretching? The animal who gives its name to yoga's most basic moves, "downward dog," "puppy pose," and the arched back "cat," of course.

• Trust

  Just because a dog has teeth, doesn't mean she'll bite. Ditto for cats and nails. Even if your pet isn't big and tough, it takes time to learn these things, but once your child does, he or she will have discovered one of the most important facts of life. Having these creatures in the house, who don't speak human, is just one big fantastic reminder that something or someone who looks different certainly isn't scary -- and just might become your best friend.

• Keep It Clean

  "JR, at the ripe age of 4 months, has learned from his Pug Brother that tongues are just as effective as baths for cleaning." -- Abbie P. We're not suggesting that all household animals are pristine -- far from it. (Indeed, with many pets, the question isn't whether or not the animal smells, but what, exactly, the animal smells <em>like</em>. Seafood? Garbage? Stinky feet? Mold?) Mysterious perfumes notwithstanding, most animals do make an effort to preen or groom themselves regularly. We have to hope kids get the message that it's good to at least <em>want</em> to look your best.

• ... But Don't Be Afraid To Get Dirty

  "This is my daughter just after her 1st birthday looking over our balcony. This kid has no fear of dogs and will walk right up to every dog she sees if we let her." - Melissa Versen For people with furry pets, leaving the house without sporting a single animal hair -- or, more realistically, a substantial coating of the stuff -- is pretty much an impossible dream. And more often than not, getting out of the house with <em>only</em> hair on your clothes is a break; loving pets with dirty paws or slobbery lips are hard to turn away. Having affectionate but messy animals around teaches you to stop worrying about being perfect and just let things go.

• Be Gentle

  "K, now 3, has learned how to be gentle with his doggy friend Belle, which has come in handy this year when his little brother was born." - Sarah W. No matter how badly kids want to pull their tails, pat them on their adorable puppy heads or tackle a kitty, animals demand a gentle touch. And, on the flip side, having a yippy or bark-happy dog might persuade a child going through a tantrum phase to embrace a new appreciation for peace and quiet.

• Stay Focused

  "Kitty keeps S's glance which has been wonderful practice for tracking objects and muscle control." -- kimonox

• Stick Together

  "She has learned to share food and how to pet nicely." - Sarah H. Pets have feelings too, and when they get sad or tired , it's up to their owners to be supportive. As all good friends know, sometimes that means being a distraction. Unsurprising, babies and kids have this approach down.

• Protect Each Other

  Dogs may be known for being able to guard people and their possessions, but their fierce loyalty is also a reminder to care for friends who can't stand up for themselves.

• Love Unconditionally

  Perhaps this one goes without saying, but all pet owners know it's true. Dogs love you as much when you're sad or tired as they do when you're having a great day. And the style of love we learn from them -- warm, generous, active, loyal -- is eminently transferable.

• Smile for the Camera

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sharon_Raghavachary"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/652318791/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sharon_Raghavachary">Sharon Raghavachary</a>:<br />Our dog Teddy has taught Becky how to pose for the camera!

• Nap Time

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sherri_Anderson_Salgado"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/575195006/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sherri_Anderson_Salgado">Sherri Anderson Salgado</a>:<br />Growing up with pets has taught my sons compassion and responsibility..when we found Elvis starving at a gas station, little did we know he would grow to be this large..if we had it to do again, we would not change a thing!

• A boy and his dog

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Siobhan_Green"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/583777996/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Siobhan_Green">Siobhan Green</a>:<br />Anthony and our dog Delta on a farm in Pennsylvania. Delta was a rescue dog

Comments

[catbyte]

09:18 AM on 06/12/2012

Love the pictures. I've been a cat lover all of my life and even before. I have pictures of our little female tuxedo cat, Geraldine, draped over my mom's huge pregnant belly. Mom said Geraldine would start purring and I'd react to that soothing sound. I have pictures of Geraldine supervising my parents as they raised me every step of the way--bath time, meal time, nap time, Geraldine was there. She finally passed away when she was 24 and I was grown. I've always lived with cats, so Geraldine did a good job. :)

[Kim0330]

01:07 PM on 04/26/2012

Great pictures! They made my day :-)

[Lindsgrace33]

02:06 PM on 04/25/2012

Beautiful. Every family should have a pet if they can. They bring such love and warmth into every household. And like these pictures show, they do wonders for children.

[J R M]

07:48 PM on 04/24/2012

My daughter's dog taught her daughter that you greet friends by licking their faces.

[viciousvirago]

09:48 AM on 04/24/2012

I thought the dog and kids slide show was terrific. A lot of wisdom there. I used to let my dogs sleep in bed with me all throughout my childhood and teenage years. I had dogs as an adult, too and have learned a lot about unconditional love thru all these years. And yes, death, too.

There is nothing like coming home to a wagging tail, smiling face and being licked hello. I miss having a dog, but do not have the energy to take him for a walk at midnight cause he has to go out. I DO miss the cuddling and playtime, though...a lot. l8 year old sons don't cuddle. And they're not furry...at least MY son isn't. But I can get him to wiggle his butt on command when I'm hurting a lot some days. It cracks me up and it makes him crack up. As to begging, he perfected that art when 3.

[ArChiMi]

08:31 PM on 04/23/2012

Beautiful, but in slide #6, I hope nothing unpleasant would wake that child up.

[mommy2one]

01:30 PM on 04/23/2012

This post couldn't have come a better time :) My son is 3 now and I'm getting him his very first pet this weekend...a dog. He loves animals and I can't wait to see how he reacts to this surprise!

[msminnie]

05:00 AM on 04/24/2012

I'm envious! We lost our Golden to colon cancer this past September and we're just starting to think about getting another one. Dogs are mandatory in our house!

Our son was the same age as yours when we got our puppy. We have a great picture of my son sitting in his rocking chair with his legs crossed and the puppy on his lap. Eleven years later we can still see the happiness in both faces at having found each other.

Good luck and have fun with your new addition!

[ModerateCentrist]

01:26 PM on 04/23/2012

Great pics! Loved em :)

[adamben]

11:45 AM on 04/23/2012

but you should also list the downside as well to give people a more informed idea of what to expect and how to react to that jealous dog; especially after a child was recently killed by their loving pet dog, and dismembered.

i remember my sisterinlaws dog growling at my niece and they put a gate, "to protect the dog!". it was a pound dog and i think that it was unpredictable. it would lunge at an person darker than a paper bag, so you can imagine.

but, if you raised your dog from a puppy then you should know its temperament. with that said, maybe a more informed article would address this issue? or even the unpredictability or maybe ways to test whether your pet would be a good fit with a child?

don't get me wrong, i love dogs, but if i have to chose between a childs safety and a dog, the baby wins, but, i realize, as with my sisterinlaw, not everyone would chose that way.

[Tom Haig]

05:08 PM on 04/23/2012

@Adamben: Good post noting caution since there was an article about a child being killed by a family dog recently.

[SithRose]

10:31 PM on 04/23/2012

I will note that the dog in that specific incident was a new addition to the family, only a few weeks previously, and was also a rescue - which means that they had not had nearly enough time to ascertain whether the dog was good with children, had been abused before, or even general temperament of the dog.

I will also note that it seems highly unlikely that a parent would not wake up at the screams of pain a baby would make if a dog bit it, much less bit extremities off. In most cases where that's happened with other types of pets, there have been drugs and/or alcohol involved.

I am neither defending nor condemning the dog or the family, as I do not have sufficient information to do so.

[adamben]

09:12 AM on 04/24/2012

which is why the article should have warned people with kids not to get a pound dog or some kind of warning since "pets" do go postal, which is the main thrust of my critique, in case you missed it; that there are two sides to having a pet and a child not just 100% positive, as we can see, regretfully, from that particular story.

the dog could have made quick work with that poor child; animals are known to go for the throat to asphyxiate their victim, so screaming would not be an option.

that family certainly had poor judgement but you don't need drugs/alcohol to sleep through noise, but it certainly helps.

[Fran Jaime]

12:17 AM on 04/23/2012

Loved it! Pets give us so very much!

[thtrmgr]

08:13 PM on 04/22/2012

So many beautiful pictures and thoughts about the ways in which pets add enrichment to our lives. What wonderful sentiments--and I couldn't agree more.