Mary Allen
Children and dogs can be one heart and one soul, especially when they grow up together. However, children first need to learn that dogs are not particularly hairy and short people. You can read here what children often do wrong when dealing with dogs.
They hug them, run up to them laughing – by this, of course, the children do not want to annoy the dogs, but to show their affection. However, in dogs, this often has the opposite effect.
When Children Want to Hug and Cuddle Dogs
Young children don’t see dogs as pets yet, but rather as siblings or stuffed animals. They can hug the animal, press its head against its head, or even lie on top of it. However, many dogs are at risk. And children still cannot interpret the signs of four-legged friends, so dogs can only show their excessive demands or their disappointment with “harder” signals, such as growls and bark.
When Children Play
Children play, and, of course, they cannot be prohibited from doing so. However, they sometimes appeal to the hunting instincts of dogs – for example, when they play catch. When dogs change their hunting behavior, it becomes more difficult to control them. In the worst case, accidents can happen.
Likewise, children should not play with dogs or run after them all the time. This also applies if the dog leaves the room. Then it may happen that he deliberately leaves in order to find peace. Parents need to acknowledge this and distract the child from the dog.
When Children Interfere with Your Dog’s Sleep or Eating
The same happens when dogs sleep or eat: they want peace and quiet, not distracted. In the face of potential troublemakers, dogs may instinctively defend their food or hiding place. Therefore, it is best for children at an early age to learn to respect the moments of relaxation of their four-legged friends.
When Children Accidentally Tease or Hurt Dogs
In high spirits, children may be unknowingly rude and oblivious to whether they hurt or annoy the dogs. This is especially true for children under the age of four who do not yet know how to empathize with dogs. What appears to them as a game can seriously harm the dog – for example, pulling the tail.
Why is it Important for Children to Handle Dogs Properly?
When dogs feel threatened, they often fight back. In the United States, about 2.8 million children are bitten by dogs every year. In her book Living with Dogs and Children, author Colleen Pelar writes that 61 percent of children are bitten by dogs from the same home. This suggests that proper education and training to handle dogs can prevent this or that incident.
What Can Parents Do?
It is not recommended to leave children, and the dog alone when they are in the same room. In particular, young children cannot yet assess the dangers or predict the consequences of their actions. Once children reach primary school age, they can learn to handle dogs through play. This includes, for example, how to lead the leash or how to properly give treats. In addition, good basic obedience helps dogs.