Kids And Dogs. Parents, this is your wake up call!
By Maggi Forootan
One of the saddest situations that I have to deal with as a dog trainer is getting the call from freaked out parents reaching out for help because their own dog has bitten their child. They are frustrated, frightened, and even angry. When a child is seriously injured by the family dog its serious business. When this happens, the dog usually pays a heavy price…sometimes with its life.
Many of these incidents could have been avoided had the parents invested a bit more time and energy into understanding how their dog feels about kids, and by teaching their children the right way to interact with dogs.
Parents must understand that dogs see adult human behavior very differently than kid human behavior. Young kids cry, scream, yell, crawl, and run around erratically flailing their arms. Normal kid stuff right? But dogs don’t always understand this kind of behavior, and many of them find it extremely threatening.
Research has shown that young children are more likely than any other group to be bitten by a dog, and, they are usually bitten by their own family dog. Dogs and children communicate with very different energy. Kids tend to treat dogs like other kids…kissing, hugging, climbing on each other, and even sometimes hitting and kicking. A dog that is unsure, frightened, or stressed out by the actions of a small child is very likely to bite because they feel the need to protect themselves from a threat that they do not understand.
THE 10 GOLDEN RULES FOR KEEPING YOUR CHILD AND YOUR DOG SAFE AND HAPPY!
- Never leave small children and dogs unattended…even if it’s your own dog. Energy can shift very quickly between kids and dogs. It only takes a split second for things to go bad.
- Teach your child to always leave dogs alone when they are eating, sleeping, chewing on a bone, or playing with a toy.
- Teach your child to always be respectful of a dog’s personal space…no kissing, hugging, ear/tail pulling, or climbing on them.
- Learn to read your dog’s signs that he’s uncomfortable with what your child is doing. Some of these signs may be quite subtle, and some might be obvious…looking away, lip licking, ear position, stiffening body, pupil dilation, trying to run away. Intervene right away when you see this shift.
- Teach your children to play nicely with your dog and include them in his training. This can be really fun for kids…dogs too!
- Never allow your child to run up to, pet, stare at, or even speak to a strange dog.
- If you have a dog and are planning on having children in the future start training your dog now…before the children arrive! This goes for Grandparents and other immediate family members as well. A good trainer can help you set up a stress free structured lifestyle for your dog, and get him in the right state of mind to tolerate and cope with kid energy.
- If you already have kids and are planning on welcoming a dog into your family do a little honest soul searching, and ask yourself if your family is really ready for the added responsibility of a dog. Start teaching your children how to correctly interact with a dog before the dog arrives, and have a solid game plan for training your dog.
- Give your dog his own calm space in your home where he can take a break from chaotic kid energy, and teach your child to leave the dog alone when he’s in his quiet place.
- Don’t assume that your current dog will be accepting and tolerant of inappropriate treatment by children just because you’ve had a dog in the past that could handle it. Just like people, all dogs are different.
Parents, Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, Cousins…and well…anyone who owns a dog! It’s your responsibility to advocate for the safety and happiness of the children in your lives…and the dog you love.
Maggi Forootan
Lead and Love K9…rules, guidance, leadership, and love!
www.leadandlovek9.com
Family dog training in Orange County, California