Dog Smarts, What New Families with Young Children Should Know

Congratulations! You added a canine member to your family. If you have toddlers and young children at home, here are a few tips to make the bond strong and get your relationship off the right start. Over his or her lifetime, your dog will bring you an amazing amount of joy and love and your children will grow up with wonderful childhood memories.

Observation and Supervision. Not all dogs are alike. Even breeds that are family friendly need to be supervised and observed when you bring them into your home. Just like toddlers, dogs are unpredictable and they can easily get excited. Their first reaction may be to growl or nip at a small child. Having you present and involved when they are together is important. Never leave your child alone with a dog, even if you think you’ll be gone for just a minute. Take your child with you or put your dog in a crate or in an area blocked off by a pet gate or baby gate.

Be Calm Around the Dog. It’s hard for young children to be calm. But teaching your child to play nicely or quietly with a dog in the room until they are very familiar with each other. Even the most adorable, sweet natured dogs can be provoked to growl or bite when startled. Young puppies will get excited when babies cry, bang or throw toys. They can run around and knock small children over. Toys can become a tug-of-war, which the dog usually wins, and an excited wagging tail can hurt if your child is hit by it. If your dog gets overly excited, pick up your child and leave the room or use a command to calm your dog. Teach your child to remain calm and leave the dog alone.

Show Your Toddler How to Show Affection. Toddlers are unpredictable. They may try to pull hair, touch mouths, kiss or grab your dog’s tail. Showing your toddler how to gently stroke their back or side will teach younger children what a dog likes. Later they can probably get away with a lot more, but initially you’ll need to show, teach and observe their interaction. Approach a dog from the side and stroke their back. Give your dog a command like sit or stay when you and your toddler approach her. She needs to know that she is below the children in the pack order.

Keep Food and Snacks Separate. Nothing destroys a relationship between a toddler and a puppy more than food snatching. It’s one of the most frequently reported times when a dog may bite a child. Serve snacks to your children when they are seated in a high chair or at the table. If that’s not possible, than put your dog in a crate or a separate area with a baby gate or pet gate. When your dog is eating, prevent your toddler from going near the dog or her food. Children should be kept away from a dog when they are eating.

Respect the Dogs Space. Small children can get hurt if they climb on dogs, especially if the dog moves to get away. If the dog is sleeping, keep your children away from her as much as you can. Give your dog a safe haven from children when they are asleep and teach your children to respect their space or block access to the dog by using a gate or crate.

The best advice is to limit and watch the time your children spend with your new dog. Dogs and children are wonderful together once they have clearly established boundaries and have been shown how to play together. Supervision and observation are keys to a long, happy relationship.

Dog Collars, No Excuse for Lack of Style…

Ever think to yourself ‘nice dog, LOVE the collar’? Well, we do all the time. At Suburban Dog House, we look for quality dog collars and matching dog leashes and have the variety to satisfy your preppy puppy, woodsy retriever, weekend warrior or diva dog. Never before have there been so many choices for dog collars that offer control, comfort, safety and style.

Choosing the type of collar that’s right for your dog is important. There are three broad types of collars: standard that includes buckle and adjustable closures; choke/martingale; and prong collars. Choke, martingale and prong collars address specific control needs. Most dogs will only require a standard collar. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match you and your dog’s personality. You can even have several including ones that match seasons, favorite sports teams, favorite colors, or with fancy rhinestones.

Adjustable cotton or nylon collars may offer a better fit than a buckle collar if your dog is between sizes. Cotton fabrics on adjustable collars come in a wide variety including paisley, chocolate & pink swirls, reindeer and holly, and modern dots. Adjustable embroidered collars come with alligators, skull and crossbones, and cherries.

The classic standard collar with a buckle typically comes with 1” wide notches to adjust for neck sizes and comes in a variety of modern, retro, ribbon, and leather styles. Some of the collars even feature bone charms for that added touch.

With so many options today you’ll find the right look. You can find a dog collar to match any dog personality and in fact you can have several. Just as often as you change jackets or handbags your dog’s look can change. Leopard faux fur, rhinestones, navy argyle, palm trees, biker’s cross, sailing anchors, studded leather, birds, American flags, and just about anything else you can think of is available on a dog collar so there really is no more excuses for a lack of style in your dog’s collar.