Who can resist the urge to cuddle up to a lovable, huggable family pet? Beneath the fur, feathers or scales of these creatures is a bone structure far more delicate than that of a hardy human, though. And the smaller the pet, the more fragile they are. Sometimes kids hurt the pets they love by accident because they don't know the right way to treat them. This article will teach kids exactly how to handle their pets with care and in return, kids will be rewarded with the gift of unadulterated animal affection.

Taking It Slow

Kids get excited around pets and when kids are excited, they tend to move quickly. Unfortunately, this is just what can scare an animal. And when pets are scared, they're not in the right mind frame to be held. Jumping and running is especially fearful to smaller animals like birds, cats, rabbits, reptiles, gerbils and hamsters. After all, think of how huge you must look to them. Moving slowly is an essential part of giving most pets a feeling of safety and security.

Grasping and Grabbing

Be gentle with your pet. This is the best motto for loving an animal and respecting its body that is sometimes easily hurt. While older dogs and cats are tougher and can sustain a little roughhousing, young pets, small animals and delicate birds can't take the same amount of pressure. Even experienced dogs and cats are often startled if grabbed suddenly from behind which can provoke them to bite or scratch, leading to unhappy kids and pets alike. Squeezing, grabbing and gripping tightly can be scary and painful for pets, so hold animals lightly and stroke them softly for the best response.

One of the best ways that parents can aid their children's understanding of the animal mind is to have kids play the role of their pets and parents play their child grabbing the pet. Showing the child where the animal likes to be stroked and what areas are bothersome with a little tickling or some mild poking can strongly impress the message onto a young pet owner and greatly improve the child/pet relationship.

The Pickup

Watch your pet for their response when you pick them up. Some animals, like rabbits, are less comfortable being held than others. If pets are struggling while you're holding them, even after a month of handling them, you may have to simply play with your pet on the ground. When picking up dogs, hold one hand under their chests and the other hand under the hind legs for support. Cats should NOT be picked up by the back of the neck and are generally more comfortable with their bellies down, not up in the air. When holding gerbils, hamsters and mice, cup them in your hands and try not to grip them by their tails as that area is very sensitive. When handling birds, once again the key word is gentle as their bodies are the most fragile of all.

Letting Go Is Hard Sometimes

When you're having fun with your furry playmate, it can be hard when your pet is suddenly done and playtime is over without warning. It's tempting to hold on just a little longer. But respecting a pet's need to be left alone is one of the best traits a young pet owner can develop and is essential for building trust in the kid/pet relationship. Your pet should have nothing but good feelings when it sees you and holding on to a pet after it wants to leave can result in feelings of fear. Birds in particular get very uncomfortable if they are held for too long. Too much petting, especially in the case of cats, can lead to instinctive running every time they see a child, which causes hurt feelings and frustration, if nothing else. Dogs may start to growl, which is also upsetting. Remember the saying "If you love something, set it free"? Now is the time to listen to this. Chances are, your pet will be right back into play mode in just a little while and you can start all over again.

If kids can remember these golden rules of handling with care, their pets will supply them with the gift of unselfish love with complete trust. And that's a precious thing indeed.