Personally, I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a dog to care for. Since I was a young girl, dogs have been my constant companion. I’m embarrassed to say however, that as a young child I really had no clue how to really care for my pets. It’s no wonder that my first dog Sasha ran away. Between my constant tugging and annoying behaviors and being alone much of the day time, she took off in search of a better life.
Not all family dogs have to be tortured by the little hands that live with them. With the right parental guidance, training and support, having children and a dog can be an amazing experience for everyone involved. Even the dog.
Before You Get Your Puppy – Research is Key
When choosing a dog to bring into your home, research is key. Not every dog is going to be right for your family and your family will not be right for every dog.
Most problems between children and dogs occur with kids under the age of 6. If this sounds like your family, well then spend some time researching breeds to find what dogs will work with a rambunctious children will do a world of good.
Common sense will tell you that large dogs bred to guard will be more aggressive and not ideal for a home with a young child present. Parents with small children are usually very busy; they often do not have the free time or desire to spend hours grooming or walking a high maintenance dog.
Initially, puppies require almost as much time as a child does, so ask yourself if you are ready to bring a new puppy into a home that is already too busy.
After you’ve decided that a new dog or puppy is right for your family and have one picked out, take some time to get your house puppy-proofed and acquire some useful items before bringing your pup home.
Bringing Your Puppy Home
- After bringing home your new dog or pup, make sure that it has several days to adjust before you or your child play with him too much. From the beginning, create a set of house rules for the children concerning the new dog and post it somewhere it is always visible.
- You should decide where the dog will sleep. It is recommended that a dog sleeps on his own bed and that you create his own space for him and not in the bed with the children for behavioral and medical reasons.
- Remember that your children will have to be trained on how to treat the dog, so plan on spending lots of time training the dog and the children.
This dog will be with you for a long time so spend the time now to avoid unwanted behavior in the future. Educate yourself. Buy and read training materials and consider enrolling your puppy in an obedience class. Well-trained dogs are a joy to be around and are a requirement if children are involved.
A good Laugh Together
The Pack Mentality – Understand Your Dog
The dog to person relationship is unique and as we begin to understand more about pack mentality, we also begin to understand more about why dogs act the way they do.
Understanding and altering dog behavior revolves around understanding the dog and the importance of dominance and submission in the dog psyche. It’s important to remember that in the dog’s mind the family is a pack unit and everyone in that family has a certain ‘position’ in the pack. In the classic family definition mom and dad would be the pack leaders and the dog is subordinate to them.
When children are involved, the dogs usually consider them to be on equal footing or lower than them. This is where problems can and usually do arise.
Because the dog considers the child an equal or subordinate, he may refuse to obey the child’s commands or ‘accidentally’ bump into the child and knock her down in a show of power.
The dog’s actions may escalate to growling at the child when the child is near food or toys, or even baring his teeth and biting when the child approaches or tries to innocently play with the dog. It is essential that the parent understands this hierarchal relationship and takes precautions to prevent problems from arising.
If you are bringing a new dog in your family, or already have a dog and are expecting a baby, it is a good idea to get help from a professional dog trainer so the introduction goes smoothly.
With some time invested in training, children and dogs can have a wonderful time together.
How A Dog Can Benefit A Child
- Teaches children responsability
- Help build confidence
- Keep the children safe from strangers
- Build wonderful memories
- Can become your child’s best friend
Re Dog and Children See also Dog Meets Baby
