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.
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