Age appropriate jobs for your little pet lovers

A toddler isn’t capable of remembering to feed a pet, just as a ten year old can handle more responsibility than just filling up the water bowl. But what pet-related duties are age-appropriate for your children?

Here is a guideline of what age your children should be before doing specific pet duties

Toddlers are capable of:

• Throwing a ball for fetch
• Pouring pre-measured dry food into a pet’s dish
• Give a treat (for pets who take treats gently)

4- and 5-year-olds are capable of:

• Refilling the water bowl
• Playing with the pet

6- to 8-year-olds are capable of:

• Brushings (for dogs that love being brushed)
• Holding a dog’s leash when accompanied by an adult
• Feed the dog (but with an adult’s reminder)

Children 9-years-old and older are capable of:

• Giving the dog a bath (with adult supervision)
• Clean out a cage or litter box (making sure they wash their hands after!)