Playing it Safe in Homes with Dogs

Children and dogs are drawn to one another like magnets. Most dogs accept and enjoy children. It is important to keep in mind, however, that ALL dogs have a tolerance limit. Too often it is assumed that because there has not been a problem that there will not ever be one. This can be a TRAGIC misconception!

“He always let the kids do anything to him—until he snapped, out of the blue!” “He usually loves to play with the kids; I have no idea what happened.”

I read these remarks in the news and hear them on a daily basis in my practice. I believe education is the only way to help decrease the occurrence of these sad situations. Dogs indicate stress and or potential conflict in many ways prior to a growl, snap or bite. It is our responsibility to know what to look for to decrease the risk of conflict between our dogs and children. It is also our role to respect dogs when they indicate they have had enough or might be uncomfortable. A dog that bites often does not get a second chance. Once a bite happens, it leaves the entire family and the bite victim feeling guilty, sad and fearful, and maybe even angry.

Learning about subtle cues dogs offer that indicate stress or potential conflict helps empower adults and children to make safer choices when encountering a familiar or unfamiliar dog. This is the first step toward prevention. I encourage you to learn, so that you can have a wonderful and respectful lifelong bond with your family companion and other dogs your family encounters.

Spring is here, and there will be barbeques, neighbor gatherings, etc. Here are some things to take into consideration when children are visiting a friend’s home or your own. Planning ahead and having options is the key to success for all.

1. Plan if and how introductions will take place.

2. Be aware if a visiting child is fearful of dogs. If so, then it might be best for dog and child not to be introduced.

3. Have a place for your dog to safely have quiet time away from the children: a crate, yard, or gated off area that the kids are not going to disturb him.

4. Do not assume that your dog will accept every child the same way. Dogs will react differently toward each child.

5. Be careful around food, as this is an opportunity that could lead to a guarding situation. Even if your dog is fine with your taking food, do not assume this is true of other adults or children.

6. ENSURE THAT THERE IS ADULT SUPERVISION NO MATTER WHAT, when the dog is around children. If an adult is not there to defer to when a dog is stressed, then he will defer to his own natural responses. Licking lips, head turning, moving away, yawning. These are all subtle signals that kids often miss or misinterpret. These signals are usually displayed in the dog’s efforts to reduce stress or conflict prior to showing teeth, snarling, growling or biting. I highly recommend the game DOGGONE CRAZY! (www.doggonecrazy.ca) to help your children learn about “dog language” and these signals. It is amazingly fun and effective.

7. Consider tethering the dog to you, or keeping him on a leash while visitors are there.

8. If your dog is not comfortable with kids, then respect that and get help from a dog behavior consultant to work on helping him be more comfortable. It’s okay to put the dog away. When in doubt, leave him out (of the situation).

9. If it’s a dog home, then there must be a kid zone! This is a place the dog can not enter without an adult, and is the kids’ play space that is completely dog-free.

10. If there are multiple dogs in the home, then consider only allowing one out with you at a time—under strict supervision!

11. When your child visits a home with a dog, be sure to ask about the rules and safety measures that the parents have in place.

12. Trust your gut. Follow your instincts. If it feels unsafe, it most likely is. Do not wait to find out.

13. Never allow children to play in a yard unsupervised, if a dog is in the yard.

14. Be aware of other dogs in the environment where children are playing outside.

15. PRAISE your dog for appropriate and desired behavior when guests are visiting.

Most of all, be safe and have fun!