When my husband was 5 years old, a playmate encouraged him to blow into a dog’s face because, (wink), “Dogs really like that.” Fast-forward decades later, and yada yada yada, my husband has the cutest scar below his nose.
If that incident happened today, there may have been a news headline and a lawsuit. People may have wondered why the children and animals weren’t supervised. The dog may have even suffered a fatal punishment for reacting badly to the little boy’s well-intentioned affection.
While parenting styles have changed significantly since the 1960s, the main things that haven’t changed in this scenario: child behavior and dog behavior.
Amy Powell, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer), at Lemoyne-based Doggie U LLC works in the dog fostering community and often sees bad things happen to otherwise good dogs because children didn’t know any better, because adults weren’t paying attention or because adults and children didn’t respect the dog’s boundaries.
Many dogs boomerang into shelters or are put down because of incidents involving children. You don’t have to scroll far through your news feed to find stories of canine/child interactions going horrifically wrong.
“You could have the friendliest dog and take him faithfully to training classes, but that is no guarantee that your dog will always behave perfectly. Dogs are animals and can be unpredictable,” said Powell. “So are your children.”
So how do you prevent your household from becoming a statistic?
Simply put: education. If you have a dog, make sure you attend training classes with him, because “dog training is really for humans,” according to Powell. Consult with a dog trainer who practices positive reinforcement behavior methods, (which means no prong collars, shock collars or choke chains), and exercise recommended dog safety practices to keep all your kids safe, furry and not.
Maintaining a dog’s boundaries keeps everyone safe. For example, if your dog reacts badly to people patting his head, then do not allow anyone to put their hands near his head. And if your dog bit someone’s hand if it got near his face, according to the law books, YOU are legally liable. Unfortunately, part of the settlement may be to also punish the dog.
“As a dog owner, you are responsible for setting boundaries for the dog and for ensuring your children respect the dog’s boundaries,” Powell said. “You are also responsible for gauging whether your child is old enough and trustworthy enough to be around the dog. If you aren’t sure if the dog is safe, then keep them separated.”
It’s also important to know your dog. Most dogs that have been rescued have trigger points resulting from past traumas. My own super friendly Lucy D. Dogg snaps like the Tasmanian devil if we blow raspberries on her belly. So to keep everyone in the vicinity safe, we don’t make sputtering noises while making direct eye contact with Miss Lucille.
“A dog operates off pure instinct. He doesn’t understand reason. If someone violates his boundaries and territory and he reacts, it’s not his fault,” said Powell. “It’s your fault for not preventing it.”
Other excellent dog safety advice: “Don’t leave the dog unattended with your child. Be sure an adult supervises,” Powell said. “Those pictures of babies and dogs napping together are cute, but very risky in real life.”
If your dog is exhibiting dominant body language, or is an unfriendly dog overall, then ask your child to stay back.
“For example, if a dog is staring you down, or the dog’s ears are forward with his mouth closed, this is aggressive body language,” Powell said. “Try your introductions some other time, if ever.”
Look for friendly dog body language. This includes a loose and relaxed posture, with ears back and mouth open. He could also be doing a play bow, with his head and front paws low to the ground and butt and tail high in the air, getting ready to lunge playfully at another dog. If a dog turns his side towards you to ask for affection, he trusts you. If you see any of these signs, the dog is friendly and may be open to an introduction to your child.
How to Introduce Your Child to a Dog
- An adult should supervise child/dog introductions and interactions.
- Take the dog and the child for a walk together, with the child walking behind the adult at first, then gradually walking alongside the adult.
- At the completion of the walk, both adult and child stand to the side of the dog.
- Place the child’s hand in yours so the child is working through the adult to get the dog to understand the exchange.
- Have the child hold a treat in their flat open hand, with their palm facing up and your hand underneath the child’s hand.
- Have the child place their palm under the dog’s chin. (Don’t pull the treat back. You don’t want the child and dog to have a game of chase.)
- Allow the dog to sniff and eat the treat.
- If the treat falls to the ground, let it roll. It is better than having the child get nipped because the dog is chasing after the child’s hand to grab the treat.
- If the dog doesn’t take the treat, let it fall and pick it up off the ground, or have the dog take it from the adult.
- Have the child praise the dog by saying, “Good dog.”
- Have the child pat the dog on his side or shoulder.
Make it clear to your child how to behave around dogs. Reinforce boundaries regularly. And remember, not all dogs are friendly, and not all scars are cute.
For more information on Doggie U LLC, visit www.doggieullc.net.
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