![There is growing concern we are too clean for our own good. Enter the dog.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/l/w/x/6/image.related.landscape.380x253.gwlwt5.png/1496787885885.jpg)
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![Picking the right dog for your family takes some thought.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/y/r/x/7/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.2yrs6.gjzqwg.png/1444099060142.jpg)
How to choose the right dog for your family
If you are about to give in to all the begging and pleading and buy a family dog, make sure you research which dog will best suit your family.
![Partners in crime ...](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/q/y/p/4/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.2qymt.gjzqwg.png/1444099060142.jpg)
Keeping a pet-friendly home clean
Like our human kids the furry ones are awesome at making a mess but Victoria Birch has mastered the mess with these sanity saving tips.
![pet](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/1/c/t/t/image.related.landscape.120x80.21ctb.gjzqwg.png/1444099060142.jpg)
![EB blogger Ghania Dib](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/a/6/r/g/image.related.landscape.120x80.bg5q.gjzqwg.png/1444099060142.jpg)
![Take your time when choosing a family pet and you'll have a friend for life.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/h/o/h/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.1140fw.gjzqwg.png/1444343240970.jpg)
![What bugs can you catch from your pets?](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/y/2/o/7/image.related.landscape.120x80.ghpbwd.gjzqwg.png/1444099060142.jpg)
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![While the giant chicken caused some people to be scared and horrified, the Brahma is actually a placid breed.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/3/0/s/t/image.related.landscape.300x200.gv301x.png/1490144776320.jpg)
11 questions your kids might ask about THAT giant chicken
They have the questions, we have the answers!
![Imposter carrots have replaced a girl's 'precious' pets, but she hasn't noticed anything amiss.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/u/d/w/u/image.related.landscape.300x200.guue0h.png/1489054376571.jpg)
Teen replaces sister's goldfish with carrots and she's none the wiser
The Twittersphere is in suspense waiting for her to realise her fish aren't what they used to be.
![Having a dog teaches you about sharing, caring and being responsible.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/6/l/n/c/image.related.landscape.300x200.gu6j97.png/1486513127248.jpg)
Michelle Bridges explains why having a pet is good for kids
"Having a dog teaches you about sharing, caring and being responsible," says the fitness guru and mum to Axel, aged one.
![Marley's reaction to meeting her rescue kitten for the first time - priceless.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/2/4/4/q/image.related.landscape.300x200.gu247h.png/1485830539756.jpg)
Girl's heartfelt reaction to new kitten has 33 million views
When 9-year-old Pennsylvanian girl Marley Frost received a surprise gift of a rescue kitten, her reaction was priceless. Opening the door to her bedroom after school one day last August with her mother Nikki Frost filming behind her, the kitten can immediately be heard mewing from a large container by Marley's bed.
![Buy your dog a bandana to keep excess slobber at bay.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/p/b/6/i/image.related.landscape.300x200.gtspru.png/1493183771810.jpg)
20 tips all pet owners should know
Love your pets, but hate the mess? We've got some easy, pet-friendly advice for cleaning your home.
![Keep your pets safe and sound this NYE.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/j/y/u/0/image.related.landscape.300x200.gtjytc.png/1483074901271.jpg)
Keep your pets safe on New Year’s Eve
New Year's Eve is one of the best nights on the calendar but our pets aren't big fans of anything that goes boom.
![Dogs can teach children a lot about being good people.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/z/z/6/e/image.related.landscape.300x200.gszvn1.png/1490663519576.jpg)
Why a family dog is one of the best teachers a child can have
What can good dogs teach our children about being better people.
![Millie Webb, 9, with one-year-old Elmo.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/a/1/g/w/image.related.landscape.300x200.gsa1g0.png/1477363383054.jpg)
Family dog can sense when nine-year-old is about to have an epileptic seizure
Too much happiness is dangerous for nine-year-old Millie Webb.
![Some children describe their pets as siblings or best friends, so how do they grieve the loss of a much loved pet?](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/7/t/j/o/image.related.landscape.300x200.gs7thv.png/1477025527201.jpg)
How children grieve and process the loss of their pets
If you’ve been through the pain of losing a family pet, you’ll know just how heart-wrenching it can be. For many little ones it’s their first experience of death.
![Mojito the therapy dog really loves her toys.](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/7/i/u/0/image.related.landscape.300x200.gs7ise.png/1477019461778.jpg)
Therapy dog's adorable bedtime routine is making her Instagram famous
We don’t think there is a dog that loves plush toys more than three-year-old therapy dog, Mojito.
![<i></i>](/web/20170612232348im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/r/j/w/w/image.related.landscape.300x200.grrjdp.png/1475130574725.jpg)
Lessons for my daughter, and me, in loving and losing a pet
What happens when you combine an animal-loving child with an animal-indifferent mother?
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