Books to Teach Toddlers How to Care for and Treat Dogs and Cats

When a dog or cat is your first baby, bringing a human baby into the mix can be traumatic for everyone involved. As the baby (the human one) grows older, he needs to be taught how to properly care for his dog or cat. There are many great books available to help your toddler learn how to treat a dog of cat. If you want your pet, and your toddler, to have a happy coexistence, try these librarian recommended books.

How Do Dinosaurs Love their Dogs? and How do Dinosaurs Love their Cats? by Jane Yolen. The "How Do Dinosaurs" series of books by Jane Yolen teaches a variety of manners and other proper behavior through adorable dinosaur illustrations. These two titles are excellent books to help your toddler understand how to care for her dog or cat. The books pose simple questions such as "Do dinosaurs pull their doggie's hair?" The answer is always "No" along with an explanation of the proper way that dinosaurs care for their pets. The rhyming verse of these books makes them fun for toddlers to listen to and the connection to a favorite character, dinosaurs, will keep their interest. These board books are perfect for teaching toddlers how to treat dogs and cats.

Tails Are Not for Pulling by Elizabeth Verdick. The title alone says a lot about how this toddler book may help you teach your toddler how to treat his pets. The book takes a look at what a dog might tell his toddler friend if he could talk. Children learn how they can interact safely and nicely with animals, as well as warning signs for when it might be time to leave a pet alone. The simple, to-the-point wording and clean lined illustrations make this book a great book to help your toddler learn how to treat his dog or cat.

Elmo's World: Pets! by Random House Publishers. Toddlers often react well to familiar characters and may take the word of Handy Manny or Clifford the Big Red Dog over Mom and Dad. This board book that takes a look at the care of all sorts of different pets features Elmo, a character familiar to almost all toddlers. Elmo talks all about how much he loves all sorts of different pets, even his goldfish. Toddlers may react especially well to Elmo's advice about how to treat pets and keep them happy and healthy.

If you have a toddler in your home, and a cat or dog or other cuddly pet, teaching your toddler how to properly care for the household pets is a must. These targeted board books are an excellent way to introduce proper animal treatment and care to your toddler. Starting early will not only keep your pets feeling happy, it will help keep your toddler safe as well. Try these books for teaching your toddler how to treat his pet.