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