Child and dog: How to keep both safe

The relationship between a dog and a child is truly magical, but it doesn't come without effort. It is very important to teach your child and your dog to coexist harmoniously, which you will be able to do if you properly train your dog and teach your child how to treat his four-legged friend.

How does training work?

Dog training is essential for a long-term, happy, and secure relationship with humans, but also to remain physically healthy, mentally alert, and emotionally happy.

To make dog training an enjoyable activity, a very good option is to use a positive reinforcement approach that is based on rewards, is fun and effective. Dog training based on positive reinforcement helps dog parents understand how dogs think, learn and communicate.

In turn, humans will understand how to encourage and reward the dog's correct and kind behaviors in real-world situations, fostering the bond between them.

It is scientifically proven that animals learn a new behavior faster and more successfully if they are allowed to voluntarily participate in the learning process and if they are rewarded for preferred behaviors. Dogs feel more secure and confident if they operate within boundaries that are set in a nice and loving way, and end up feeling more confident and connected to their family.

How do children and dogs coexist?

Teach your children to respect dogs and to realize that the family pet is not a stuffed toy, but a creature that feels pain when hurt, has feelings and needs that need to be met. Children may unknowingly hurt or irritate the animal, so care must be taken. At the same time, the dog must learn to behave properly and be trained not to play too wildly, not to bite or jump on the child.

In any case, the dog should have a place, such as a room or his crate, where he can be alone and have his personal space, which the child will respect. Do not allow children to play in or on the dog's crate, as this could make the dog feel trapped and attack the child out of fear.

Also, children should speak softly to sleeping dogs before petting them so as not to startle them.

When the new puppy comes home

Set the house rules and apply them from the day the dog comes home. The child should know these rules, but at first he should never be alone with the dog.

Regarding the first approach to each other, you should let them get used to each other from the other side of the room or yard. Help the dog keep the desired distance until it feels comfortable, and don't let children squeeze it or make it feel threatened.

In any case, it's important to keep a close eye on the child's relationship with the dog, and even if they seem to be doing well, always keep a close eye on them. It is absolutely safe to only leave older children alone with dogs that they know well and have built a nice and calm relationship with each other.

Children and unknown dogs

The majority of dogs are friendly, they want petting and interaction. But not all dogs are friendly, and it's important for your child's safety to know what to do when they encounter an unfamiliar dog, whether it's a stray or a dominant one.

Prepare your children for meeting an unfamiliar dog. Teach your children how to approach and pet a dog. You can do this with a stuffed toy, where every interaction is done in complete safety.

When the child sees a dog, if it is dominant, it should always ask its human if it can be petted. In any case, you should explain to the child that he should leave the dog alone if the animal looks scared or nervous.

When to stay away from a fearful dog.

Therefore, it is essential that the child (and you) know what a scared or irritated dog looks like. This is a dog that will bark, growl and show its teeth. His ears will be erect, his legs stiff and the hair on his back may have stood up.

In this case, you should immediately remove the child from the dog so that no accident occurs.

The same is true if the dog is eating, so it may think that someone is coming to steal its food, or if it is a mother nursing her puppies.

Remember the dog doesn't know you won't hurt him. Teach the child that he should not run and shout at the dog, because he may be afraid and react instinctively, just to protect himself.