This year, after a lot of debate, discussion, and yes, some begging, my family has decided to add a four-legged member to our ranks. We're currently waiting for a golden retriever puppy, which should join us sometime late this Summer. I've always known I wanted a puppy for our family, and my kids have been making desperate pleas for years, but I wanted the timing to be right (who wants to potty-train a dog and a reluctant kid at the same time?). I also wanted everyone to be on board (having not grown up with dogs, my husband needed some convincing about their benefits) and my kids to be old enough to understand the responsibility of pet ownership.
Now that we've determined that we're ready (and decided which breed fits into our young family best), we're moving on to the next stage: how to prepare our kids for the reality of a puppy. If you've decided to bring a pup home to your house, here's are seven ways to get your kids ready to be good pet owners.