Child vs. Dog

   Posted: February 20, 2009 | Comments: 0 | Views: 435 | Rating: 5 / 5

Dogs offer a great deal of companionship to children when personalities are matched correctly. But if you have an aggressive dog paired with a timid child, there will usually be major problems. If your child is waging war against the dog (or vice versa), there are some easy ways to promote peace for both parties.

You should begin by talking with your child about the importance of being gentle with dogs. Use a stuffed animal and model what kind of touch is appropriate. Show your child how to gently pet the dog. Talk about how it hurts when the child touches the dog with a rough touch. You should also model appropriate speech towards the dog. Show your child how to talk gently to the dog, rather than screaming at it.

Always supervise children carefully when they are interacting with dogs. Reward your child for good behavior around the dog. Be careful not to cause your child to be afraid of dogs. You want to instill a healthy fear and respect for animals without causing a phobia.

The key to a good relationship between children and dogs lies in an understanding of the pack mentality. Dogs automatically assign themselves a spot in the hierarchy of their homes. Most dogs understand that the parent is the “pack leader” of the family. But you should be sure to show your dog that the child is superior as well. If your dog believes it ranks higher than your child in the family hierarchy, it will be aggressive.

Aggressive dogs tend to jump on children and knock them down. They might also growl or bite when children get too close or touch their food. This behavior needs to be corrected immediately. If your dog becomes aggressive towards your children, immediately seek help from a behavior specialist.

Never leave an aggressive dog alone with your child. If your dog begins to bite, you need to determine the root of the problem quickly. Most dogs bite out of aggression or fear. While this is usually the case, there are also instances where dogs nip at children with a “warning bite”. This is the dog’s method of letting a child know to back away. Dogs often give small warning bites to signal that they are too stimulated, afraid, or even annoyed. Sometimes dogs do this when a child is being overly affectionate. They don’t know how else to get the child to stop, so they nip at their hands or feet.

While the natural reaction is to punish or isolate the dog, this might make the problem worse. Instead you should teach both your child and your dog how to play appropriately together. Consult the veterinarian or a professional dog trainer to get help with behavior modification exercises.

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