The vision of children and dogs slumbering together on the settee or the ground, having funs in the garden, or Just laying in the long grass on a summer’s day, is just plain wonderful and brings warm feeling to anybody’s heart. The connection between children and dogs that consider themselves the family protector is priceless, but this has to be nurtured and guided, not only for your child’s sake but also for your pets. We can achieve this by simply training our dogs and teaching our children to appreciate and treasure each other. If this can be done correctly, fewer children will be bitten and fewer dogs will be euthanized for aggressive behavior.
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Dogs and children live together amicably, if the circumstances are properly understood and cautiously handled, these friendships amongst dogs and children last a life time and are both wonderful, and inevitably great character building for the child.
Most dog injuries inflicted on children are by the family pet, or a neighbours dog. It is not that the dog is aggressive, it is just that the owners do not understand that children, and predominantly babies, act in a different way to adults, and it is this unusual behaviour that upsets the dogs.
My own child was brought up with (STANLEY) my Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Supposedly due to the media are known as aggressive dogs. The breeds are fairly social to strangers but to the family, they were totally trust worthy. I like to think that it was because I taught my child to behave properly around and towards dogs that no incident ever occurred.
When dogs and children are living together it is the children that need to be taught to treat all dogs with the greatest respect, and to understand that dogs are not toys. As soon as babies are crawling they need to be told to be kind to the family dog. Puppies are never too young to learn, neither are babies. If you have just acquired a new puppy do not let it chew you or play nip, good training for when it is a fullygrown dog.
Dogs protect all things that they care about, whether that be the house, their diner, the car, their bed, kids have to understand to leave dogs alone at certain times or certain places. Some dogs are, by nature, herding dogs, so these may chase a child if it runs away. This may excite the dog to attack.
Some dogs would get defensive if they are cornered or have some one standing over them. Kids should be taught to not scream, cuddle the dog tightly or pinch them. It should be remembered that as a dog gets older it could become less tolerant, so the family dog that has always been so good with the kids suddenly nips a child. Old dog get deaf so cannot hear a child approaching, so may nip out of surprise. It is not the dog’s fault!
First of all, a dog should never be chained outside unattended. Most dogs of guard or working heritage suffer personality quirks when tied and many become downright aggressive. Dogs are better off in fenced areas, where they can see the barrier between them and the world, where they can feel somewhat safe from noisy, frolicking children. In addition, many dogs instinctively equate the high-pitched sounds of children with the distress sounds of prey animals, and they react by biting the child as they would have bitten the prey animal in the wild.
Second, children should be taught how to behave around dogs, even if their own family does not own a dog. For example, a child should never approach a strange dog without asking the owner if it’s OK to pat the dog. If the child sees a loose dog on the street, he should not approach it even if he knows the dog belongs to his friend. He should tell someone that he saw the dog, but should make no attempt to pat or grab it.
Nor should he scream or run away, for these actions can result in an attack by the dog. A running being frequently says “prey” to the dog and triggers the chase response in his brain. Once triggered, this response is almost impossible to interrupt. The dog is reacting to chemical stimulus, not rational thought, and is extremely difficult to sidetrack.
Most dogs, even those that are well trained, do not consider children as figures of authority. Furthermore, since children frequently stare intently at animals, a dog may feel threatened by this short person who is trying to catch him. Even the best-natured dog may bite to protect himself in these circumstances, especially if he feels cornered.
Once a child is given permission to approach a dog, she should present her closed fist for the dog to sniff. This protects the fingers in case the dog is frightened and tries to nip.
Children should never hug a dog that is not their own, and should only hug their own dog very gently if the dog can tolerate the hug. Children should be taught to never hit dogs with their hands or an object, to lower their voices when playing with the dog, to leave the dog alone when he’s sleeping, eating, or ill, and to never tease a dog in any fashion. Many dog bites occur because the child teases the pet beyond endurance.
Dog owners share the responsibility for bite prevention as well. They should socialize their puppies to small children at an early age. (It helps to buy from a breeder who has started this socialization prior to the puppy purchase, for the younger the puppy is exposed to gentle children, the more tolerant of children it will become.)
Socialization can be as simple as walking the dog near a playground where children are making noise, running about, playing ball or Frisbee or soccer or walking through the neighborhood while the kids wait for the school bus. The dog can be told to walk at heel through a crowd of children, to sit-stay and watch the play or allow the children to pet his head, to down-stay until the end of the game. Constant exposure of this type will accustom the dog to the presence and antics of children.
GOLDEN RULES
The dog should never be left alone with a child less than five years of age.
A young child may challenge or injure the dog unintentionally and the result could be tragic. Dogs and children should be separated at snack time so the dog doesn’t learn to steal food from tiny hands.
The dog should have a place he can call his own, a retreat, a private room, a den.
This can be a pen in the back garden or a crate in the house. The children should never be allowed to bother the dog when he is in his place.
If the dog has access to a fenced garden, owners should make sure that children cannot accidentally or intentionally tease him.
Children often begin by goading the dog to bark, then to snarl. Or they may throw things at him to chase him away from the fence. However it begins, the end result is usually the same: the kids learn that teasing the dog gives them a feeling of power tinged with the possibility of danger and the dog learns to hate kids. This hatred may be manifest as fear or as aggression, and may end when a child is bitten and the dog is taken to the pound to be placed in a new home, (if lucky).
If the dog does not like the children, the children must change their behavior.
Most dogs are wary of staring, of quick movements, and of high-pitched screams, all of which are typical of small children. Here’s a few hints to alleviate the tension between dog and children.
Provide a crate where the dog can escape the attention of boisterous or over-zealous children.
Teach children to leave Rover alone when he’s in the crate, to pat him gently, no squeezing around the neck, please, and to leave him alone while he’s eating.
Do not play tug-of-war with any dog who has access to children.
A dog that learns to tug on any item will soon figure that anything he can grab is his, even if it’s a child’s toy, clothing, or appendage.
Teach children not to run past the dog and scream,
For this can excite the dog and lead to dominant and even aggressive behavior.
Never tie a dog in the yard.
Children tend to tease tethered dogs even without realizing it, which can lead to aggressive behavior. Many instances of dogs attacking children occur when the dog is tethered in the yard and a screaming or running child enters its space.
INTRODUCING A FAMILY DOG TO A NEW BABY
After welcoming a baby in to the globe you’re most likely concerned about how your dog goes to react to him or her.
Many individuals surrender their pets to shelters as a result of of exhibited jealousy from their dog after a replacement baby’s arrival and worry of the infant being harmed by the animal. Nonetheless several families are successful in introducing their dogs to the new baby.
Introducing your dog to you baby is a process that wants time and also the utmost of care to confirm a happy and safe welcoming method!
The steps to making sure your dog acts appropriately around the baby when she or he is finally taken back to your home are twofold typically – getting ready your dog for the infants arrival and introducing your dog to your infant.
Preparing your dog.
Making ready your dog for the baby’s arrival earlier is one in all the most effective ways to help avoid friction and jealousy between your baby and your dog. Your dog is employed to your attention and pampering, some jealousy can naturally surface when your new baby becomes the center of attention. Taking some precautions, a few minutes of quality time and a few further treats will go an extended method!
Be positive.
Take your dog to your local Veterinarian for a complete checkup a few months before the baby arrives. Worms and parasites can be harmful to your baby therefore be sure to worm your dog before the baby arrives and at the conventional intervals to stay on top of this problem. If your dog is not spayed or neutered, this is often also the time to induce it done.
Encourage friends with infants to go to your home to accustom your pet to babies.
SUPERVISE ALL PET AND INFANT INTERACTION.
Allow your dog to explore the baby’s sleeping, diaper changing areas, and connected items like baby powder, lotions, and diapers to become acquainted with the new smells and objects. Apply baby lotion or powder to your hands, as an example, and permit your dog to sniff the new smell. Dogs depend on their sense of smell, therefore familiarity with the new baby smells can help him or her acknowledge the baby as a part of the family. If doable, allow your dog to smell clothing that your baby has used before you bring the baby home.
Accustom your pet to baby-related noises months before the baby is expected.
For instance, play recordings of a baby crying (there are CDs out currently for this exact coaching purpose, flip on the mechanical infant swing, and use the rocking chair. Make these positive experiences for your pet by giving a treat or playtime.
Don’t permit your dog to sleep on the baby’s furniture or play with the baby’s toys. Your dog ought to grasp that the furniture is not for her and ought to treat it as such. Give toys for the dog that don’t resemble baby toys. A dog may take the toy from the baby’s hand and unintentionally injure the infant.
If the baby’s space will be off-limits to your pet, install a sturdy barrier like a removable gate (offered at pet or baby supply stores) or, for jumpers, even a screen door. Because these barriers still permit your dog to see and hear what’s happening in the area, your dog will feel less isolated from the family and more snug with the new baby noises.
I know this next step sounds a bit silly but it really can help. Carry around a baby doll, take the doll within the stroller/push chair when you walk your dog, and use the doll to induce your pet used to routine baby activities, like bathing and nappy changing.
Finally and terribly importantly, be sure that your dog is aware of that you and your family are alpha over her. This is crucial to ensure you can reprimand your dog should any jealous signs show when the baby is brought home.
Introducing your dog to your infant.
The actual introduction of your dog to your newborn baby is of utmost importance and the first few meetings will typically dictate how your dog responds to your baby in an ongoing basis. Because of this, it is crucial to undertake the introduction process slowly and properly.
Tips for the primary meeting.
When the baby comes home, another person ought to hold the baby while you greet your dog. Your dog has missed you and it is important to listen to him when you initially get home.
Greet your dog happily and bring him or her a new toy as a gift to associate the baby with something positive. Once your dog’s excitement regarding your homecoming has dissipated you ought to begin introducing your baby to the dog.
If you’re unsure of you dog’s behavior, leash or restrain him or her during the introduction. Talk to your dog, pet and encourage her or him to urge a sensible look and sniff the baby’s hands and feet. Do not force a reluctant dog by pushing the infant in front of the pet. Enable the pet to explore the new smells at their own pace. NEVER leave your baby unsupervised along with your pet. An infant is incapable of pushing the animal away and your dog may inadvertently smother the child. The actions of a baby could scare your dog and cause it to bite in self-defense. If your dog reacts aggressively, put her in another space until it is calm and attempt the introduction again.
When the initial greeting, you can bring your pet with you to take a seat next to the baby; reward your pet with treats for applicable behavior. Remember, you would like your pet to view associating with the baby as a positive experience. Again, to prevent anxiety or injury, never force your pet to induce near the baby, and perpetually supervise any interaction.
Life can little question be hectic caring for your new baby, but strive to take care of regular routines as abundant as doable to help your pet adjust. And be certain to spend one-on-one quality time with your pet every day—it may facilitate relax you, too. With proper training, supervision, and changes, you, your new baby, and your pet ought to be in a position to live together safely and happily as one (now larger) family.
YOUR QUICK GUIDE
Kids need to be told to never approach a strange dog, without asking permission. If the dog is out without it’s owner leave it alone.
To always approach in a steady quiet manor.
No teasing, yelling, hugging, pinching, pulling or chasing.
Always leave mothers with young alone.
Never try to stop a dogfight!
If you are approached by a strange dog, stand still; let the dog sniff you, no wriggling fingers, put them in your pocket if you have one.
Do not stare at the dog, and never run away.
If the dog is barking or growling, slowly walk away, keeping the dog in view.
Be sure your kids understand the difference between your own dog and a strange dog.
It is wise to never leave a baby or very young children alone together, no matter how well you think you know the dog.
This all sounds a little forbidding but training your dogs and teaching children, you really can have lots of fun together.
If in doubt consult your vet.
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