© 2024 NPR Illinois
The Capital's Community & News Service
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Raising children? Have to deal with someone else's? Considering a family?Let's talk kids!Claudia Quigg hosts this weekly reflection on best practices, experiences, and research related to child rearing and parenting. Thursdays at 12:50 PM and 7:50 PM

Let's Talk Kids: "The Dog Days Of Summer"

Claudia Quigg headshot
mattpenning.com
/
NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

We recently enjoyed a summer visit from one of our daughters and her family.  But this time, in addition to the four grandchildren she and her husband transported to our house, they also brought some additional special guests: a litter of three newborn pups they’re fostering for their local humane society.  

These poor babes were dumped in a cardboard box along the side of a highway where a Good Samaritan found them and delivered them to the shelter.  But they have now landed in a tub of butter, spending their infancies in a home with plenty of love to share.

Unwilling to abandon them yet again in their short lives, this family of six drove cross-country with a few extra stowaways. And at our house, we braced ourselves for the management of this cadre of canines.

Baby gates to limit access to carpeted rooms?  Check.  Dog food for their dietary needs?  Check.  An agenda that would allow for the frequent feeding of newborn pups?  Check.

Even as we planned for the challenges of these untrained pups, we also looked forward to many opportunities to observe the nurturing behavior that is a hallmark of the people I am proud to call family.

Each dog was patted and rubbed at some point by every member of the family.  Toys were tossed and retrieved for folks to toss again.  The puppies were held by the hour by those of us who couldn’t resist their soft heads and round bellies.

Even the youngest knew to use “soft hands” when patting a dog, and the dogs developed gentleness with them in response.  The puppies were wrapped in blankets and cuddled, content to be babied.  Puppy Chris was even willing to “drive” a Barbie car.

The humane society was brilliant to entrust these puppies temporarily to a family who would thoughtfully socialize them.  Having grown accustomed to loving care, they will make three families some pretty wonderful pets.

And in the meantime, during a long, hot summer, they provided our grandchildren one more opportunity to hone their nurturing skills—skills learned on dogs that transfer to the care of people as well.
 

Claudia Quigg is the Executive Director of Baby TALK and writes the Let's Talk Kids parenting segment and column that honor the expertise parents have about their own children and explores issues that are universal for families. From toilet training and sibling rivalry to establishing family values, Claudia Quigg provides thoughtful and accessible insights that are meaningful to families' needs.
Related Stories