Dogs and Children

Dogs and Kids

Tips for Introducing Dogs and Children

It is important to start by recognizing that not all dogs have been socialized around children, and therefore may not be comfortable with children. While it is never too late to teach a dog to become comfortable around children, the older the dog is, the more patience and time will be required.

Four very important guidelines:

Many experts, both in dog training and in pediatrics, recommend waiting to get a dog until children are at least five years old.
Always supervise dogs and children , especially children under age twelve. Even the best intentioned children can do things that frighten a dog, especially a dog that is new to a family. Likewise, the sweetest dog can misinterpret the intentions of a child.
Never punish your dog for growling or showing signs of discomfort around children. This is your dog's way of telling you that they are not comfortable. If the dog is punished for this behavior, they will learn to suppress the warning, making it more likely they will bite without warning.
The dog should always have access to a quiet, private space where they can feel secure and escape when the activity level in the family gets too much.

When introducing a new dog to children:

Have the dog on a leash, with you holding the leash loosely, just in case you need to restrain the dog.
Start by introducing the dog to the children when the children are calm and sitting quietly.
Allow the dog to sniff the children, while the children remain still, not reaching out to the dog.
If all is going well and the dog appears relaxed, teach the children how to pet the dog gently, with no poking, patting pulling or grabbing. No hugging, please (at least until the relationship is much better established!)
Show the children how to offer the dog a treat from an open hand.
As long as the dog remains relaxed and comfortable, allow one child at a time to pet him and offer treats.
Don't over-do-it at the beginning, short petting and orientation sessions will serve everyone best.
Keep the environment positive, encouraging and calm.
If your child is too young to following instructions such as this, have another adult hold the child on their lap during the introduction.

Watch for signs of discomfort from your dog:

If your dog seems happy, have the children stand up and then offer the treats.
Gradually allow the children to increase their activity level around the dog, but discourage running or noisy rough-housing. Remember, dogs have an instinctual drive to chase moving things; boisterous play can upset or over-excite a dog and lead to unintentional mishaps.
If at any time during the introduction the dog becomes over-excited, nervous or tense, you will need to calmly separate the dog from the children and take things more slowly.
Once the dog has had a chance to relax, start again with the dog on a loose leash. Allow the dog to sniff the children when the children are calm and sitting quietly. The children should not reach out for the dog.
With the children in the room, feed the dog treats. At this point you should do the positive reinforcement with the treats instead of the allowing the children to do it.
If the dog is relaxed and doing well, then have the children offer the treats.
It is important the children remain very calm around the dog until the dog shows consistent signs of being relaxed. Only then can the activity level gradually increase.
This process will likely take some time, so be vigilant and separate the dog from the children if the dog shows signs of discomfort.

More help is available:

If you encounter unexpected training or behavior problems, contact Home-to-Home for information or referral to a vet, a trainer or behavior specialist. The sooner you respond to a problem, the less likely it is to jeopardize your relationship with your dog. In fact, solving a problem together can be a good way to improve your understanding of each other and to prevent problems in the future.