Child and Dog Relationships – How To Nurture and Create Safe and Loving Interactions

There are profound benefits in children relating with and having a dog as a friend. These kinds of foundations can really enhance the social as well as character development of children in many ways. It also provides them with comfort, friendship, love and many other benefits that having a doggie pal can bring.

It is important however, that parents make sure that both children and the dogs learn how to safely interact with each other in order to make the experience worthwhile. In fact, the interaction between them is of crucial importance and must be properly nurtured and carried out. Many times both the dog and the child need to learn how to interact with each other.

Whenever you bring home a puppy, both your child and puppy need to be taught and trained certain things. When children aren’t taught how to treat a dog properly, they cannot be blamed when something goes wrong. Often times they will play too rough, or tease the dog, or generally not understand that certain things that may antagonize the dog can end up in the dog becoming agitated and upset and possibly lashing out at the child. Vice versa the dog also needs to understand that children need special handling and they are more fragile that objects and adults.
When you bring home a new puppy, your child should be trained together with your dog. Dog owners need to remember that it takes two to tango. Until both have been safely acclimated and trained, the dog should not be left alone with the kid or kids.

Any kid has a tendency to recognize just those things that turn a gentle puppy or even grown dog into a more aggressive and dangerous animal. Many puppies at the outset sense danger with a youngster simply because they're at eye level, they've got higher pitched voices and can often make sudden and aggressive movements when playing. Also, sometimes the dog can sense that they child maybe capricious. The interaction between a new dog and a child should always be supervised as a way to ensure that your kid and your doggie are able to relate and play in a safe manner.

Tips For Teaching Children To Relate to Dogs

1. Be cautious with stray dogs, many aren’t socialized and may carry illness.
2. Approaching a dog face to face is threatening to them. Better to approach a dog from the side.
3. Never hit a dog, or be overly aggressive.
4. Most dogs use sniffing to get to know something, so it’s important that kids learn to let them do this before they are touched or stroked.
5. Dogs are live beings; they are not toys or made of plastic. They need to be treated with kindness, care and gentleness. Activities such as, puling on their ears, or yanking their tails is a no no.
6. Do not feed dogs table food, unless mom and dad say it’s okay.
7. Playing rough games with dogs is a bad idea; it fosters aggression and an aggressive personality.
8. Be careful around sleeping dogs, let them wake up naturally and not startle them.
9. Children are accustomed to showing their affection with a hug, but some dogs will tolerate it while others will not.
10. Always check with the owner before trying to stroke or play with any strange dogs.
11. Make sure to check with mom and dad before trying any new interaction with your dog.
12. Dogs are very social creatures, but they are still animals and can be unpredictable. Always remember to be nice and sweet with your dog, and they will be your friends for life. Dogs that are treated roughly or played with aggressively will become meaner and more out of control as they grow up.
13. Growls and other such sounds a dog makes are indicators that they are upset and to stop whatever is causing those sounds.

Parents Responsibilities as Dog Owners

1. Proper obedience training when they are puppies is crucial, it will save you lots of frustration in the future and also facilitate a better relationship between your kids and the dog. Make sure the child, if old enough, also participates in any home training so they understand the parameters.
2. Don’t tie up dogs.
3. Make sure to socialize a puppy or dog as soon as possible, have them interacting with other dogs and people on a regular basis.
4. Never leave a new puppy or dog alone with your child in the beginning, and until you feel comfortable that they are having a sound relationship.
5. Make sure they are familiar with their environment, both outside and inside.
6. Make sure to never permit the child or children to be abusive towards the dog, or to mistreat him or her in any way. Teach kindness, tolerance and gentleness to nurture a better a child as well as dog personality.
7. Provide a crate, dog house or some other space that the dog can truly call his own, so that he can have space to chill in and bet some alone time or rest.
8. Do not leave the dog in the backyard alone for long periods of time. Dogs are social animals and need human and canine interaction.
9. Always make sure to reward good behavior with praise and treats.
10. Teach kids to leave dogs alone when they are eating or resting.
11. Acclimate the dog to being touched, hugged and enjoy tactile stimulation, children are usually very touchy feely and the dog needs to get comfortable with that.
12. Always make sure that you explain dogs, their behavior and how to properly handle s a pup to your children. Stress all the above ideas as well as safety to ensure that the child understands what the dog likes and does not like.
13. Always use a leash when walking your dog.

Expectant Parents – Preparing the Dog For Infant

Should you all ready have a dog and are expecting a baby, there are things you can do to prepare the dog and make the new baby a welcome part of the family, especially if your doggie has not been around a lot of children.

Invite a family member or friends that have babies or young kids, so the dog can get used to the scent and you can observe the interaction first hand. Additionally, this can formulate the pet's actions is a way that permits your pet to maintain a good relationship with any kids.  Train your pet to conduct themselves near a kid with all the tips discussed above.

Don't delay till the infant comes into the world to construct adjustments. Attempt to produce numerous adjustments prior to the infant's birth and this way when the baby is born the dog will already have some experience dealing with children and babies. For example, in case you'll have to shift home furniture around to support any baby stuff, such as a playpen or other necessities, that might impact the actual position of the pet's bed and even dish. If that's the case, make this switch prior to the infant's arrival. This will get the dog used to it before the baby comes and better acclimate the baby's arrival to the household and have a better affect on the dog child relationship.

After you have the baby's room developed for your infant, train your pet dog that he or she won't be permitted inside the area, at all. When he or she learns this prior to the infant arrival, it will reduce the pet's animosity for the child.

Get your pet accustomed to the actual noises the infant makes by actively playing a recording of a newborn cooing as well as crying. Play that recording within the baby's room to be able to show to the doggie exactly where he or she can anticipate these types of noises to come from.
Whenever you're ready to bring the child home, make sure the dog is in another room or in the yard so you can have ample time to settle in and get the baby prepared. After that bring the infant out and introduce your dog to the child. Your dog will most likely sniff the baby and then look to you for further guidance and attention, Remember he has missed you while you were at the hospital and he may not be sure how to deal with the new member of the family. At this time, it might be advisable to place the infant down and spend time playing with your dog. Demonstrate to your pet they're still cherished. This will likely help the development of the dog-child relationship.

In fact, the same as seen with siblings, your pet may need more extra attention within the initial days of the infant coming home. This really helps to prevent any resentment building in the dog for the baby. Permit the dog to possibly be around and near you when changing or feeding the child.

By no means shout or chastise the dog for getting near the baby. Instead, allow him and support his sniffing the baby and getting used to the child whenever possible. But, also make sure to supervise this, especially in the early days. This helps nurture the dog-child connection. As the child grows, start to teach him or her how to act toward the dog, as mentioned in the tips above so that the dog and child relationship will flourish flawlessly and without problems.
You will see in time a beautiful bond and a natural dog child relationship flourish, which will provide both of them a life long lasting friendship. Assist your kid plus your doggy to live in harmony by keeping to simple rules and guidelines and the bond between dog and child will last a lifetime, affording both of them the unique and wonderful benefits that that type of relationship can bring.