Kids and Dogs

It’s strange how many tales we hear of dogs attacking children. The news media tends to highlight these stories so much you’d think that every dog was a ravaging wild beast ready to attack anything that moves. Up here in Canada, where I live, the Ontario government has even gone as far as banning pit bulls due to a number of attacks over the past few years. I think this is overkill, to blame an entire breed because of the poor training and handling of a small group of pit bull owners. However, despite all the publicity, parents still choose to bring dogs into their families with little instruction or research.

The truth is, most families with a dog will never have to deal with the terrible situations we hear about on the news. Let’s face it, dogs love people and most dogs, if properly trained, love children. Children and adults love dogs and it’s very doubtful that after thousands of years the connection between canine and humankind will be broken.

So, what needs to be considered when bringing a dog into the family, is how to create the best possible environment for your children and dog so that you won’t need to worry about unexpected tragedy. There are many experts with various views, but several points can be generally agreed upon when bringing a dog into a household with children.

First, make sure that very young children (pre-school age, under six) are NEVER left unattended with a dog. It’s not that your dog will suddenly choose to attack, it’s that a dog like a small child itself will not always choose the best response when it is unintentionally harmed or threatened in play. You would never leave small children unattended when playing, therefore, you should never consider your dog to be more mature, but rather equal, to your child in tolerance and behavior.

Second, discourage roughhousing with the dog. Larger dogs, such as Newfoundlanders and Old English Sheepdogs, can handle more play without becoming agitated. However, other large breeds may become agitated in play and accidentally harm your child. Large breeds may even knock over small children unintentionally. Smaller breeds as well may feel endangered if play gets too rough and feel the need to protect themselves from harm. So, in all cases, roughhousing should be discouraged.

Third, make sure you have a well trained dog when you choose to have a dog as a family pet. Some trainers feel that the owner is adequately qualified to take on this task, however, you may wish to consider having your dog professionally trained if possible, especially if it is a breed that has developed a bad reputation like pit bulls.

Aggression can happen with even the most loving owners when incorrect training, or improper handling of the dog is not addressed early on. The best solution is to choose a fully-trained dog. This will give you peace of mind and reduce the possibility that your pet and children will get into a bad situation.

It’s extremely important that you do your homework and research before deciding on which breed you will bring into your household. By taking the time to understand and learn about dogs, you are more likely to find the life-long friend your children deserve!

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Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.

Visit his websites at: The Complete Dog and Maxx Golf Guides

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