Children and their own dog
Children and attention:
Don't do it
- Sending the dog away when the child gets attention
- Scolding the dog when it shows interest in a child
- Teach the dog to stay in its place (crate, basket) when the child is already in the house.
Well done
- Give the dog attention or treats in the presence of the child
- Having the dog make a connection between ‘child’ and ‘fun’, for example by giving him a treat every time you feed or change the baby, or by taking him out for a walk with the stroller
- Give the dog its own safe place even during pregnancy, and calmly learn to go there on command and stay, preferably with a nice bone
Children and respect:
Don't do it
- Allowing the child to walk or crawl toward the dog, certainly not when it is lying in its bed
- Letting the child interfere with a dog that is eating, or has a toy or chew bone
- Letting children scream loudly and run near the dog
- Letting children crawl on the floor near the dog
- Letting children tease or command the dog
Well done
- Letting the dog come to the child to do something fun
- Allowing the (somewhat older) child to hand-feed the dog, unless the dog has ‘food aggression’ or is very tense during meals
- Let children play with the dog by, for example, a search game where the child can hide a treat that the dog has to find. Both love it, it is not threatening for the dog, and child and dog develop a better bond
Children and strange dogs:
Don't do it
- Letting the child stare at the dog (dogs find this threatening)
- Sending the children out onto the street alone with the dog
- Let the child hang over the dog's neck
- Having the child give commands to the dog
- Letting a child pet a strange dog
- Scaring a child of dogs
- Letting the child scream or run away when a dog approaches (the louder the child screams or runs, the more interesting the dog will find the child)
- Make the child hit the dog with his little hands, or make him put his little hands up in the air
Well done
- Teaching the child to look past the dog
- Take the dog and the kids out together for a nice walk
- Teaching the child to pet the dog gently on the chest
- Ensuring a fun game with child and dog
- Teach your child three rules for petting dogs Teach a child how to interact with dogs
- Teach a (scared) child to calmly stand still when a dog approaches and look the other way
- Teach a child to keep their hands in their pockets or behind their back (most dogs know from experience that hands often hold a treat, and will therefore go right for them. With hands behind the back, a dog might sniff them for a moment, but quickly lose interest)
- Teach your child three rules for petting dogs:
- Ask your mother or father first (and if they are not there: do not pet!!)
- Then ask the dog's owner (and if they aren't there: do not pet!!)
- If you are allowed to pet both, you have to ask the dog: gently extend your hand and see if the dog comes to you.
If not, he doesn't feel like it and you have to leave him alone.
If so, gently scratch him under his chin or on his chest.
Don't pat him on the head, most dogs don't like that at all.
Misconceptions:
He looks so sweet”
He is wagging his tail”
“We have a dog ourselves”
Twelve golden rules for children on how to interact with their dog:
Treat your dog the way you want to be treated.
2. A dog may look ever so sweet, do not approach it without asking its owner.
3. Never threaten a dog.
4. Do not stare directly into a dog's eyes.
5. Do not pull the dog's tail or step on it.
6. Do not disturb the dog while it is eating.
7. If you want to play with a dog, pay special attention to its strong teeth.
Never get between fighting dogs and definitely do not pull on them.
9. Even if you are afraid of dogs, never run fast away from a dog.
10. You have two hands; the dog only has its teeth to hold onto something.
11. When playing with a dog, make sure an adult is nearby. Especially with unfamiliar dogs.
No two dogs are the same.
