When I was a teenager and young single, I had plenty of issues with relationships. I had one foot in the church and one foot in the world. Part of me really wanted to do things right (and I knew a lot about what was right). The other part of me was entangled in the relationship ideas the world offered. And I didn't have the sense -- or the training -- to be able to tell one from the other. They were all thrown into a pile in my mind and no one knew which side would come out at any given time.
I suspect I wasn't a lot different than most kids who are raised in the church today. Growing up, I spent at least eight hours a day around worldly kids (like most kids do these days). So I knew how they acted. But I also received good teaching from my parents and my church. So I knew a lot of truth.
This created a problem, though. While there was a seed of truth planted inside me that was nurtured and growing, I was planted among the thorns for most of my waking hours. I loved people and wanted to have good relationships. But I was conflicted. I didn't really know how to develop mature relationships. Most of my relationships were fairly shallow. Those that did grow almost always ended badly, grew apart, or became worldly in some way or another (except for some with strong believers).
It wasn't until I died to many of those worldly ideas that I finally began to develop lasting, deep relationships. And getting rid of those ideas didn't happen overnight. It took a lot of painful work to pull those weeds out of my life. Fortunately, God's grace was much stronger than the world's hold on me.
As parents, we can't keep our kids out of the world. They have to live in it and be a part of it. But how can protect them from having the same struggles as I had? The answer is in how we prepare them and how we expose them to the world.
Most parents have a more reactive method to their parenting. They throw their kids into the world and then hope to deal with all that the world throws at them once they see it in their kids. Doing this is akin to raising your children among the thorns and weeds. And, as the parable of the sower explains (Luke 8), when plants are young, they're far more susceptible to the thorns. In fact, the thorns can choke them out.
Instead parents need to have a much more proactive approach to training. It's far better to train your kids first, and then gradually expose them to the world to see how well they handle small bits of exposure. If they handle it well, commend them and build on it. If they don't, correct them gently and retrain.
As they grow in your training, they'll be able to handle the weeds and thorns much more effectively. When they go to college, they can deal with the added freedom and tough situations far better. And their relationships will be deeper and fruitful much earlier in life. Those deep relationships act as roots when the world comes against them. They can pull them back when the hardest winds blow. After all, a tall oak hardly notices the briars at its feet. But a sapling is easily overcome.
Therefore, while owning a dog may be a common interest between you and your children, you need to make sure that you train your children first, especially if you plan on introducing smaller dogs such as the Lhasa into your home.
The Lhasa Apso is not particularly fond of young children and will snap if he/she is teased. In addition, this dog is quite small in size and can easily be injured if handled roughly. Hence, children need to know how to properly care and interact with the dog. The best way to ensure a child learns how to get along with the dog is to make them an active part in the dog's development and lay down a few ground rules.
The following is what you should teach your children –
Play Nice – Your child needs to understand that a dog is not a toy and should not be treated as such. They need to treat the Lhasa as they would like to be treated. This means not pulling on the dog's tail, kicking the dog, pulling on his/her ears, etc. It's also a good idea to instruct children (especially young children under the age of 8) not to pick up and carry around the Lhasa so that they don't accidentally drop the dog.
Furthermore, young children under the age of 5 should be supervised when with the dog to ensure that no harm comes to either party.
Food and Water – Children like to help out because it makes them feel important. Give your child small responsibilities by letting them know the importance of providing fresh water and food for the dog. Inform children that the water in the dog's dish should be changed frequently (a few times per day) to keep water from becoming stagnant and a breeding ground for bacteria and/or mosquitoes (especially is water is kept outside).
As for food, children need to know that the dog should only be fed a certain amount of their dry dog food daily. Show the child how to measure the right amount with a measuring cup and distribute it in the dog's dish. Moreover, make sure the child knows not to feed the dog human food, as many food items, such as chocolate and onions, are extremely toxic to dogs. And, if a child wishes to give the dog a treat, he/she should ask you first before giving it to the dog.
Exercise and Play – The Lhasa Apso will require exercise and will need plenty of playtime and attention. Teach your children that the game of fetch is an excellent way to play with the dog. Children will enjoy tossing a ball or other object for the dog to fetch and the Lhasa will love the game.
When it comes to walking, children under the age of 10 should not be permitted to walk the dog on their own. Children under the age of 5 should not be allowed to walk the dog even in the company of an adult, as the child will have no control over the dog and there is too much of a risk that the child will let go of the leash.
Puppies love to chew – Make sure your child knows that there is a good chance that the Lhasa puppy will love to chew, especially when they are going through their teething stage. Therefore, your child needs to remember to pick up his/her things and not leave valuables lying around that could potentially injure the dog, or that the dog could destroy.
A child needs to understand that if the dog chews up one of their toys or belongings it is not the dog's fault. The dog does not understand it is destroying something of value, and is not committing an intentional act of destruction. Therefore, make sure children get into the habit of closing room doors and picking up their things.
Taking the dog out – Children need to be aware that the Lhasa must be taken outside to use the bathroom, a task that is much more frequent when the dog is still a puppy. Make a bathroom break schedule for your dog and make sure your children are aware of this schedule, especially if you go out. Children must understand the importance of taking out the dog, or else accidents will occur in the home.
Safety – Last but not least, children need to keep the Lhasa Apso's safety in mind. This means –
* Be mindful of where the dog is lying down so it is not unintentionally walked on or sat on. * Keep small items and toys off the ground such as small plastic pieces that the dog could choke on. * Don't leave food lying around the floor and make sure all areas are inspected after eating to ensure things such as candies or chocolates haven't been left on the ground. * Art and craft supplies should be put away so that the dog can't get into paint, crayons, color pencils, glue, etc.
When you stress to your children how important it is to properly care and love the Lhasa Apso, teach them how to treat the dog, and provide them with some responsibility, your children and the dog can become great friends.
Both Steve Kroening & Richard Cussons are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Steve Kroening has sinced written about articles on various topics from Investments, Asthma and Health. Steve Kroening writes for Success magazine and also publishes Wisdom's Edge. You can get Biblical tips on health, finance, relationships, parenting, and success, delivered to your email inbox every week. Simply visit. Steve Kroening's top article generates over 27100 views. Bookmark Steve Kroening to your Favourites.