Ultimate Guide to Dog Training Part 5 - Dogs and children

Although we often think of dogs and children together, there are certain areas that have to be taken into consideration. A puppy growing up with a child can create a wonderful bond and some memories that the child will take with them into adulthood - but what kind of dog is best to have around with very small children?

Choose the right dog

Clearly small children are very unpredictable in their behaviour, so you want to avoid a dog that is nervous or easily agitated. You also have to ask yourself can a small child cope with the power of a large dog, even if it’s just being playful? Very loud dogs can also cause stress to a small child.

If you have very young children you’re likely to be very busy parents so, do you have the time for a dog that needs a lot of exercise, or one that has long hair that needs constant grooming? Also remember that puppies require nearly as much time as young children do, as they have to be trained and constantly reassured.

Do you really want a dog?

This is a question you must ask yourself, because if you are not 100% committed then it is unfair on the animal and the results are likely to be negative anyway. In certain cases, parents have purchased a new puppy simply because the child has wanted one for a long time, and the parents had avoided purchasing one before simply because they knew they lacked the time to care for it. Have the circumstances now changed? Do you have more time on your hands?

You have to remember that small children are not capable of training a puppy on their own and so the dog will still be totally your responsibility. When a child reaches seven or eight years old they do start to develop a different kind of relationship with pets, where they can take more responsibility and care of the animal themselves. The bond that can now form between child and dog can actually teach both of them some rewarding lessons.

Introducing the puppy

So you've decided that a new puppy being introduced into the family is a good idea. Before you bring the puppy home, you must get all the essentials in first. You may want the puppy to be a surprise to your family, but it makes a lot of sense to get prepared before you actually bring the dog home. Although you will add to the puppy toys as it grows, it is best to purchase some before it arrives.

Make sure there are some ground rules in place. The puppy will need time to settle into its new home, as this is a completely new world to it - it's best that it is not constantly played with and left to rest when it needs to. Children should be given times when they are allowed to play with the dog, but do involve them in the care side of the animal straightaway. Deciding where the animal should sleep is another very important decision and it is best that it has its own basket somewhere, rather than sleeping on children’s beds.

If you want that bond between the dog and child to be special, then it pays to educate the puppy and the child at the same time. You can do this by showing the child exactly what the dog’s needs are, which will allow them to understand why dogs behave the way they do. You might find that it pays to introduce the puppy into a training class when it is old enough. It would even make sense to purchase or borrow some training books because your dog is going to be with you a long time and investment now will pay off way into the future.

A new baby and the family dog

Most of the time this is not a real problem if the dog’s feelings are taken into consideration. A dog behaves in almost exactly the same way as a child does when a new baby arrives. They both feel neglected and sometimes jealous, and in both cases this can be put right by showing love and care and giving time in equal proportion. The dog will naturally be very curious when a new baby is introduced, but as long as they still get the attention there should be no problems.

A new born baby, of course, has no role to play in the dog’s training - it is only when it starts to crawl that any problems may occur, as it will not understand any rules and is almost certainly going to be attracted to the dog.

We have to go back to the dog’s mentality to understand any issues that could arise. The dog, as we know, is a pack animal and will be used to a certain hierarchy. It knows it has a place within the family and the new baby or toddler is likely to be considered to be beneath it. It is quite possible that it would not obey a young child and may even show slight bullying tendencies. The dog is likely to see itself in a subordinate role beneath its owner or even perhaps an older child, but is certainly unlikely to see itself in a subordinate role with a toddler or new baby and this is where sometimes there can be problems. Often this is displayed in a non-aggressive way, for example, the dog may just get up and walk away each time the child approaches, but this could also change quite quickly if the dog's space is being constantly invaded. It may then bare its teeth and growl and generally show a more aggressive attitude.

Often a dog will bite only as a warning, but of course this can still be serious and traumatic. Dogs warn each other in the pack in exactly the same way, first by body language and, if this does not work, a growl or a showing of teeth and then lastly a warning bite which is never meant to inflict damage but is simply meant to be a firm telling off. Young children do not understand this language and carry on regardless.

Both children and dogs can be trained, but neither is to blame in this situation as both are acting perfectly naturally. Punishment should not be given and these situations can mostly be avoided by common sense and good parenting, mixed with understanding the dog’s needs.