| Children love dogs and dogs usually love children. | | | | Tip #3: Teach the dog good manners |
| When children and dogs can interact safely and | | | | Just as children need to learn to ask before petting a |
| happily, it's a beautiful thing to watch. Dogs can be | | | | strange dog, dogs should be taught good manners in |
| wonderful friends and protectors for children while | | | | public. If someone approaches him, the appropriate |
| children can learn a great deal about how to be gentle, | | | | way to handle the attention is for him to sit or to lie |
| loving, and responsible dog owners. To reach that level | | | | down. This keeps the dog in a more controllable |
| and to gain those benefits, however, you'll need to | | | | position for you and makes him see very |
| teach both the animal and the child how to safely | | | | well-behaved. Plus, if you take the time to sit the dog, |
| interact. | | | | the children can have time to calm down and the |
| Here are a few tips to make that happen. | | | | situation can be easier to manage. Also, you must |
| Tip #1: Socialize the dog | | | | teach your dogs, especially the larger ones, not to |
| A well-socialized dog is going to be less nervous and | | | | jump up on people as a greeting. This can be cute, but |
| excited around children. You should start taking your | | | | it is also very dangerous for children who can easily be |
| dog or puppy to places where children will be present | | | | knocked over by the weight of the dog. |
| so they can get accustomed to the noise, the fast | | | | Tip #4: Help children learn not to hurt animals |
| movements, and the heightened excitement. That can | | | | Sometimes children don't understand the proper way |
| all be a lot for a dog and can cause him to become | | | | to treat animals, including dogs. Kids may grab their tails |
| too excited or too nervous. If he is used to these | | | | or try to climb onto of them without thinking about the |
| things, he'll be more likely to be calm when petted and | | | | discomfort this could cause the dog. Small dogs can |
| adored by admiring children. | | | | be injured, placed in toy boxes, or more. For the dog, |
| Tip #2: Teach your children | | | | these are negative experiences that make them dislike |
| Children, as mentioned above, love dogs and | | | | being around the child. As a parent, you should stop |
| sometimes they love them so much that they act | | | | your children from engaging in these activities at the |
| without thinking. A little hand reaching tentatively to | | | | earliest sign of them. Teach your kids from day one |
| touch a dog's head could easily get bitten by an | | | | how to treat the dogs appropriately. Also, be a good |
| unfriendly or poorly socialized dog. Kids, for this reason, | | | | role model. If you hit your dog to punish him or her, you |
| should always be taught to ask the dog's owner | | | | are sending a very dangerous message to your child. |
| before petting the animal. That gives the owner a | | | | The bottom line is that both dogs and children need a |
| chance to properly prepare the dog for the attention | | | | little bit of training in this area. They need to be |
| and to refuse if he or she knows the dog is not a big | | | | socialized so they can get along with one another, and |
| fan of children. Plus, it means your little one won't be | | | | they need to learn the appropriate ways to respond to |
| rushing up to dogs and putting themselves in a situation | | | | one another. With a little help, they can have a great |
| where a startled dog might attack. | | | | relationship that is safe and loving. |