Dogs and Children

How many times have we seen Lassie save Timmy or some other child from disaster? What about Rin Tin Tin and Rusty? Who could forget Nana from Peter Pan? What about the flip side? How often do we hear reports of the family pet mauling a young child? How many pets are surrendered each year when a new baby arrives? How many pets are given up because owners find they have little time for the child and the dog? Dogs and kids can be the best or the worst match. What can you do to help ensure the best with your dog and child?

Socializing and training beginning when the dog or puppy first joins your house is a key element in how it will handle various situations. Puppies should learn to accept people of all ages. A trusting bond between dog and owner as well as one where the dog is responsive to the owner is very important. Even if you do not have or ever plan to have children, your dog should be used to them.

Children can be threatening to dogs. Children are at eye level, have higher voices, faster motions, often forget to use gentle hands and can be unpredictable. Make sure your dog is used to various actions around him as well as sounds and smells. The more accepting your dog is of new things and the more things he is used to, the better.

Children need to learn how to properly behave around dogs. Pulling ears and tails, running like crazy, teasing, hitting, cornering the dog, tormenting the dog when he is sleeping, etc., can lead to a nip or worse. Granted, dogs should learn to tolerate all body parts being touched, having food and toys taken from them and various sounds, but even the best trained dog has his limits.

Many dog bites are not directly the fault of the dog but were instigated by a child. Even the best trained dog if hurt or pushed enough could bite. Dogs have bad days and if they are not feeling well, a pulled ear that normally would be ignored could this time end in a bite. Being with a dog is a privilege for a child. If he cannot behave, he cannot play with the dog. Always supervise children and dogs when they are together.

Children must learn never to go near any dog – even if it is known to the child – without permission from the owner. A dog running loose can act far differently than the same dog on lead with his owner. Dogs roaming lose are a threat to safety. Any dog that is loose should be reported to an adult. The child should never attempt to catch the dog. Some animal rescue groups even teach classes on safety around dogs. These are great to look into – even if you do not have a dog!

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