| Young children and dogs should not be left | | | | If you are doing hand feeding exercises with |
| alone together unsupervised. As wonderful as | | | | your dog (as you should), have your children |
| your dog may be, it is wise to remember that | | | | help with the feeding. The exception to this |
| they are carnivores with an incredibly | | | | is if your dog shows any signs of food bowl |
| punishing bite and use their jaws for both | | | | aggression. If you notice your dog guarding |
| self-defense and aggression. Every year an | | | | his bowl and acting aggressive around his |
| unnecessarily high number of children are | | | | food bowl, do not let your children help with |
| bitten by their own dog or a dog belonging to | | | | feeding exercises, and contact a professional |
| someone else. | | | | trainer for help. |
| | | | |
| Most of these bites could have been prevented | | | | Teach your children how to play games that |
| through better management. It is every | | | | will enhance their relationship with your |
| parent's responsibility to teach their | | | | dog. All retrieving games and hide 'n seek |
| children proper behavior around dogs. Those | | | | are excellent games for dogs and children. |
| of us who own dogs are responsible for their | | | | They also help keep your dog well exercised |
| behavior around children. Pet owners who have | | | | and tired. Tug-O-War should never be played |
| children obviously have a double role. | | | | between children and dogs. |
| | | | |
| Recommendations: | | | | Practice handling exercises with your dog |
| | | | regularly by touching his ears, paws, and |
| Many of the things that children do | | | | tail while gently praising and rewarding him |
| naturally, such as running, shrieking, and | | | | with treats. Also practice rolling your dog |
| boisterous play can be very stimulating to a | | | | gently over on his back. Hug your puppy on a |
| dog. If your children are roughhousing with | | | | regular basis from the time he is very young. |
| the dog and/or playing with a group of | | | | Hugging is instinctively very unnatural and |
| friends, it would be wise to separate them | | | | uncomfortable for your dog, but he can be |
| from your excitable dog. Put your dog down | | | | taught at an early age to accept it and even |
| for a nap in his crate, or let another family | | | | enjoy it. |
| member entertain him. | | | | |
| | | | This will help your dog learn to tolerate all |
| Encourage your children to be quiet and calm | | | | the ways children may interact with him |
| when they interact with the dog. Teach them | | | | including tugging on his ears or tail, |
| how to reward calm, attentive behavior and | | | | hugging, and even grabbing. This is your |
| how to ignore the dog when he is behaving | | | | insurance policy, if, in spite of your |
| inappropriately. | | | | diligence, a child grabs, squeezes, or hugs |
| | | | your dog, he will not react aggressively. |
| Include your children in the dog's training. | | | | |
| How much they participate will be dependent | | | | If you are concerned about your dog's |
| upon their age and interest. | | | | behavior toward your children, contact a |
| | | | professional trainer immediately. |