Living with a pet can be beneficial
to children. Pets can enhance a child’s self-esteem, teach them responsibility
and help them to learn empathy. However, children and dogs are not always
going to automatically start off with a wonderful relationship. Parents
must be willing to teach the dog and the child acceptable limits of behavior
in order to make their interactions pleasant and safe.Selecting A Dog
What age is best? Many people have a "warm fuzzy" image of a puppy and a
child growing up together. If you have a young child and are thinking of
adopting a puppy (less than one year old) there are a few things you need
to consider.
- Time and energy: Puppies require a lot of time,
patience, training and supervision. They also require socialization
in order to become well-adjusted adult dogs. This means they need to
be taken places and exposed to new things and new people. If you have
a young child who already requires a lot of care and time, will you
have enough time to care for a puppy, as well?
- Safety: Puppies, because they’re babies, are
somewhat fragile creatures. A puppy may become frightened, or even injured,
by a well-meaning, curious child who wants to constantly pick him up,
hug him or explore his body by pulling on his tail or ears.
- Rough play: Puppies have sharp teeth and claws
with which they may inadvertently injure a small child. Puppies also
tend to jump up on small children and knock them down. All interactions
between your child and puppy will need to be closely supervised in order
to minimize the chances of either being injured.
- Advantages of getting an adult dog: Adult dogs
require less time and attention once they’ve adjusted to your family
and household routine, although you’ll still need to spend time helping
your new dog with the transition to his new home. You can better gauge
how hardy and tolerant an adult dog will be of childish enthusiasm and
you can work with your local animal shelter to adopt a dog with a history
of getting along well with children. As a general rule, if your child
is under six years old, it’s best to adopt a dog that’s over two years
old. Although puppies can be a lot of fun, and it’s exciting and rewarding
to help them grow into wonderful companions, they do require significantly
more time to train and supervise than an adult dog.
What Breed Is Best?
Although some general statements can be made about specific dog breeds,
the characteristics of an individual dog are just as important as a dog’s
breed.
- Size: Small breeds of dogs, such as toy or miniature
poodles, chihuahuas or cocker spaniels, may not be good choices for
a young child. These small breed dogs are more easily injured than larger
dogs and may be more easily frightened by a lot of activity, loud noises
and by being picked up and fondled frequently. Frightened dogs tend
to snap or bite in order to protect themselves. Larger dogs may be better
able to tolerate the activity, noise and rough play that is an inevitable
part of living with children.
- Breed type: Some of the sporting breeds, such
as labradors and golden retrievers, make good pets for families with
children. Breeds that have been selected for protective behavior, such
as chows and rottweilers, may not be as good for families with children.
It’s sometimes difficult for this type of dog to comfortably tolerate
the many comings and goings of children and their friends, who may be
perceived as territorial intruders. Herding breeds are inclined to "herd"
children, chasing and nipping at their heels.
Who Will Care For The Dog?
It’s unrealistic to expect a child, regardless of age, to have sole responsibility
for caring for a dog. Not only do dogs need basic things like food, water
and shelter, they also need to be played with, exercised and trained on
a consistent basis. Teaching a dog the rules of the house and helping him
become a good companion is too overwhelming a task for a young child. While
responsible teenagers may be up to the task, they may not be willing to
spend an adequate amount of time with the dog, as their desire to be with
their friends usually takes over at this age. If you’re adopting a dog "for
the kids," you must be prepared and willing to be the dog's primary caretaker.Starting
Off Right
Following are some guidelines to help you start off on the right foot. Remember,
small children should never be left alone with a dog or puppy without adult
supervision.Holding:
- It's safest for both your child and puppy if your child
is sitting down whenever he wants to hold the puppy. Puppies are squirmy
and wiggly and may easily fall out of a young child's arms and be injured.
If held insecurely, a puppy may become frightened and snap or scratch
in response. After your child is sitting, you can place the puppy in
his arms.
- Have your child offer the puppy a chew toy while he
pets the puppy. When puppies are teething, they tend to chew on everything,
including hands and arms, so having a chew toy handy will divert the
puppy’s teeth away from your child. An added benefit is that the puppy
will come to associate pleasant consequences (getting a treat) with
being held by your child.
- For larger dogs, have your child sit in your lap and
let the dog approach both of you. This way you can control your child
and not allow him to get "carried away" with pats that are too rough.
You are also there to teach your new dog to treat your child gently.*
Petting and giving affection:
Children often want to hug dogs around the neck. Your dog may view this
as a threatening gesture, rather than an affectionate one, and may react
with a growl, snap or bite.
You should teach your child to pet your dog from
underneath the dog’s chin, rather than hugging him or reaching over his
head. You should also teach your child to avoid staring at, or looking
directly into, your dog’s eyes.
Giving Treats: Children tend to become somewhat fearful and anxious
when a dog tries to take a treat from their hand. This causes them to
jerk their hand away at the last second. The dog may then jump up or lunge
to get the treat which may result in the child being knocked down. Have
your child place the treat in an open palm, rather than holding it in
his fingers. You may want to place a hand underneath your child's hand
to help guide him.
Supervising Play: Children move with quick, jerky movements, have
high-pitched voices and often run, rather than walk. All of these behaviors
somewhat resemble the behavior of prey animals. Almost all of a dog’s
play behaviors are based on predatory behavior. Consequently, your dog
may respond to your child’s behavior by chasing him, nipping at his heels,
jumping up at him or even trying to knock him down.At first, your child
may need to play quietly around your new dog until he becomes more comfortable
and calm and your child has gained more control over the dog. Your dog
must also learn that certain behaviors on his part are unacceptable, but
he must also be taught what behaviors are the right ones.
Our handout: "Dealing with Normal Puppy Behavior: Nipping and Rough
Play" outlines procedures for discouraging rough play and encouraging
appropriate play. However, most children under the age of ten are not
capable of carrying out these procedures, so it’s helpful to teach your
dog a "leave it" command that you can use when play gets too rough. Taking
an obedience class together is a good way to teach your dog to respond
to commands.An approach that is not helpful is to punish your dog for
his behavior. If he learns that being around children always results in
"bad things" happening to him, he may become defensive in their presence.
Possessions: Your dog won’t know the difference between his toys and your
child’s toys until you teach him.
- Your child must take responsibility for keeping his
playthings out of your dog’s reach.
- If, and only if, you catch your dog chewing on something
he shouldn't, interrupt the behavior with a loud noise, then give him
an acceptable chew toy and praise him lavishly when he takes the toy
in his mouth.
- Don't give your dog objects to play with such as old
socks, old shoes or old children's toys that closely resemble items
that are off-limits. They can't tell the difference!
- Dogs can be possessive about their food, toys and space.
Although it’s normal for a dog to growl or snap to protect these items,
it’s not acceptable. At the same time, children need to learn to respect
their dog as a living creature who is not to be teased or purposefully
hurt and who needs time to himself .
If your dog is growling or snapping at your child
for any reason, the situation needs IMMEDIATE attention. Punishing your
dog is likely to make matters worse.
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