StarBulletin.com

Tell kids who want a Chihuahua how hard it is to live with that breed


By

POSTED: Thursday, November 06, 2008

Question: We just went to see the new Disney flick, “;Beverly Hills Chihuahua,”; and now our kids are insisting we get one. How can I get them to realize how much work dogs are without being the bad guy?

Answer: You are probably not the only parent with this concern. Movies create hype about certain kinds of animals just as Easter can create a huge demand for rabbits. Many cave in to the impulse and acquire a special breed only to find that they're not equipped to meet their needs.

Chihuahuas are especially irresistible to children because of their diminutive size and large eyes. They resemble a toy dog or stuffed animal.

You can facilitate a learning process that will help your kids realize what's involved with dog ownership, and the personality and behavior of Chihuahuas.

A good place to start is to acknowledge their enthusiasm about wanting to share their lives with a pet.

You might encourage them to research the breed and share what they've learned with the rest of the family.

Ask them to outline the differences between how the movie portrayed the dog's personality versus the true behavioral characteristics of the breed. This will help them see the divide between fantasy and reality.

A bit of homework will teach kids that despite their many positive attributes, Chihuahuas when provoked can be irritable, overconfident and nasty.

In fact, although they may win big points for cuteness, Chihuahuas are not recommended for families with small children, as they can be high strung and are wary of strangers and other dogs.

  Q: What other facts can I teach them about what's involved with caring for a dog?

A: Caring for another life is a big responsibility that requires everyone at home to help out. Dogs have physical, social and psychological needs that must be met.

Care requires training, walks, health care, play time and socialization with a wide variety of people.

Pets also require a financial commitment and families are wise to budget to ensure that health care needs can be met for a pet's lifetime.