Dogs and Children – What You Should Know
Shannon Emmanuel
Dogs and children are a perfect fit. They are what fond memories
are made of and part of a joyful childhood. But sometimes tragedy
does strike. What should you do to prevent an accidental attack?
The first caution for parents is to NEVER leave very young
children (pre-school age - under six) left unattended with a dog.
If you trust your dog then you likely do not believe that the dog
will suddenly choose to attack. However, the dog is not much
different than a small child itself. If a dog is unintentionally
harmed or feels threatened it may bite in self-defense, just as
small children may push or scratch another child when they feel
threatened. Do not subject your dog or child to possible harm by
leaving them alone to play. Your dog is not an adult. Always
supervise dogs and children and you will be preventing a problem
from occurring.
Discourage your children from hugging and kissing their dog as
most bites to the face happen this way.
Regardless of the age of your children you should discourage
roughhousing with the dog. Some of the larger breeds can
generally handle rougher play, such as Newfoundlands and Boxers,
without becoming agitated. Other large breeds may become
irritated by ear pulling, grabbing and other play and
accidentally harm your child. Large breeds may even knock over a
small child unintentionally.
On the other hand, smaller breeds sometimes hurt children because
they feel threatened by overly affectionate mauling or fear being
stepped on. In these cases they may bite or scratch in an effort
to protect themselves from harm. It is recommended that
roughhousing should be discouraged with all breeds.
You should seriously consider fully training any dog you choose
as a family pet. While some trainers may feel that the owner is
adequately qualified to take on this task, you may wish to
consider having your dog professionally trained if possible.
Incorrect training can actually lead to behavior problems. Owning
a fully-trained dog will give you the peace of mind you are
looking for when selecting a pet for your children.
These are just some of the points to consider when bringing a dog
home for your children. By taking the time to understand and
learn about dogs before bringing one home, you are more likely to
find the life-long friend your children deserve!
Shannon Emmanuel is a freelance writer and the author of ‘How to
Select the Best Dog or Puppy for Your Children’. Find tips and
information on dogs for children at
http://www.best-dog-breed-for-children.com
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