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To you as a parent..from another,
who knows dogs and has experienced it all.
I always watch children and dogs, as even good dogs can have accidents and children can be pretty naughty at times to. To leave children and dogs alone is a pretty high risk, one I wouldn’t want to take, as I love both very much and want to guide and teach them both how to treat each other properly.
It is pretty amazing to see the companionship they bring each other and the games they invent, they teach other a lot of things they need for their lives ahead, respect, self control and different types of boundaries and communication.
It brings to mind a piece of writing from a book I read that really puts our relationship with dogs, when we get it right, into perspective
“Dogs allow us to experience a companionship that is supremely honest and extremely forgiving. They do not plot behind our backs or act out of spite; we can count on the truth and integrity of their actions. They can give us the kind of bond that can be very difficult to find in the human world."
My son and dog have their ups and downs, which I see them through as best as I can and I hope as my son grows up, with that guidance he will remember that honest and forgiving relationship he had with a simple, loving creature, and be like that towards not just dogs and other animals, but more important still…other people.
I also hope he will pass it on to his children and their children to come, as the way forward for a better future and understanding for our dogs lies here, to teach our children, the right way to do it, before they even get a dog.
IT IS NOT AN EASY ROAD, CHILDREN AND DOGS, BUT IT CAN BE DONE VERY WELL – THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS TO SUPERVISE AT ALL TIMES AND TO REMEMBER THAT
THE DOG SHOULD NOT KNOW BETTER.
It is up to us as the owners and parents to show teach them to get on and love each other properly.
DOGS, CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS
 We often see dogs outside the school gates, most are very well behaved and their owners are with them and watching them carefully, but some are tied up to some thing and left alone.
It is a vital part of a dogs’ socialization to learn to accept running and screaming groups of children and learn to behave in a calm, polite manner, but not at the risk of any child or person what so ever. This can be done in a controlled manner using correct leads, harnesses and head collars and done at a safe distance and under no circumstances should you leave your dog un-attended around the school.
Sadly children and dogs’ being ideal playmates is a terribly blown out of proportion and a dangerous attitude to take. Children do all the wrong things round dogs such as scream, shout, run about, flap their arms, falling on the floor and they make wonderful noises when they are attacked playfully, which will only excite dogs’ more, they trigger off a very dangerous reaction in dogs - the predatory rehearsal instinct – one day that rehearsal could be real.
What your dog tolerates from your children will not be the same with others, they are strangers.
Very few bites occur without being provoked. We can help by teaching our children the rules about mutual respect and that dogs are not toys and to not allow your children to harass a dog.
Teach them the warning signs a dog will give when unsure and afraid: - yawning, pacing, moving away, cowed position, raised lip, growling, stiffening, snapping, they DO give plenty of signs WE JUST NEED TO LEARN THEM.
We also must teach them to leave dogs alone, to ask permission first. But even after teaching these things, young children sometimes just don’t understand or indeed see these things, but we can!
Dogs also have an invisible “flight” or “fight” boundary around them that a child does not understand, parents and dog owners should be aware of these and that this boundary and level of tolerance will match how much time has been put into the dogs training.
If the child enters this boundaries by approaching the dog – maybe hugging them or stroking them, a dog will move away, if he can’t do this and wishes to, or indeed he has done and it has been ignored, his actions are then pushed to the fight instinct and will then bite.
We must realise no dog is 100% and every dog IS capable of biting under the right circumstances and dogs’ who are to be around children MUST be obedience trained, controlled and watched carefully
SO PLEASE DON’T TIE YOUR DOG UP ALONE
Stay with your dog and let someone else go into the school to collect your children or simply do not bring them.
We also must realise there are people who steal dogs for a living and leads/collars can be broken or chewed when a dog is pulling, through excitement or anxiety. Leaving your dog is a risk in more than one way.
Dogs’ are intelligent, versatile animals that help, protect us and give us unconditional companionship. Like each and every one of us, they have there off days and limits, but unlike us they can’t turn round and tell us. It is up to us to look after them.
THE RULES …..why not print it off and read it out!
CHILDREN AND DOGS – THEIR RULES
 “BE AWARE AND BE SAFE!”
“Love your dog as they will love you. They will be a trust-worthy friend who will never repeat your whispered secrets, will always be pleased to see you and will always want to be with you.”
A dog cannot talk to us; their way of communicating with you is with body language. To be their best friend you must learn their language and what they do or don’t like.
Most dogs’ do not want to hurt you - sometimes it is there only way of telling you something, as you have missed the other ways they tried to tell you. A dog has feelings like your own – always remember this.
Don’t bother dogs when they are eating, asleep or protecting their own things. Give them space and respect it, just like your bedroom and toys are yours - you would be upset if someone did something to them you did not like, took them away from you or scared/woke you up when you wanted to sleep.
Don’t tease or hurt (pull hair, tail, ears or poke/hit) them. How would you feel if someone did it to you?
Never try to touch a dog, even if they look friendly, through a car window or gate – they might protect their property and bite you.
Never try to separate dogs fighting – even if it is yours. Go and get help.
If out on your bike and approached by a dog, never pedal faster, a dog could out run your bike. Stop, get off and put it between you and the dog. Stand still, be quiet and avoid looking at the dog. (STARING IS A CHALLENGE TO SOME DOGS!) They will soon get bored and be on their way.
The same applies for skateboards, roller blades and scooters. All these things are really strange to a dog that has not seen or approached one. Get off, stop still as above, let the dog investigate and once again they will more than likely get bored and go.
NEVER GO WITH ANYONE TO SEE PUPPIES OR A DOG – GO HOME AND TELL YOUR MUM OR DAD IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO.
Learn how to train and look after dogs’ properly – ask family, read books, watch videos’ or go to classes. Dogs’ need kindness, consistency and patience when learning – just like you! It will be fun and you could then have a go at teaching your dogs tricks!
Remember even happy and playful dogs can bite.
This hurts just as much so be careful with them at all times, if they get overexcited or start grabbing your clothes, hair, hands etc. shout OUCH!! loudly and walk away.
This will show them that if they mouth you in any way you will no longer play with them – you will be teaching them not to bite. It is important to start teaching this when they are puppies.
IF YOU SEE A STRAY DOG OR ARE APPROACHED BY A DOG BEING WALKED BY SOMEONE – DO NOT TOUCH THEM.
If the owner is with them ask them first - if they say yes - let the dog sniff the back of your closed hand, if they come forward wagging their tail they want you to stroke them – don’t stroke them on the head they do not like this, instead stroke their shoulder or chest.
If they are tied up on a fence – do not approach.
If they are on their own keep well away, some may be escaped pets or they could be a strays.
Stray dogs are lost or abandoned and they have no one to care for them. They are usually hungry, thirsty, lonely and scared. They can also carry disease and spread it, bite people and cause traffic accidents.
IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY A DOG, DO AS FOLLOWS:
1. BE A TREE. Stand still. Hold your arms close to your side and don't move. You are making your body into the shape of a tree. Don't run away, scream, move your arms and avoid making eye contact with them. When the dog goes, you may back up slowly so you can still keep an eye on him.
2. 2. ACT LIKE A STONE. If you are lying down, or have been knocked down by a dog, cover your face, keep your legs together and pull your knees up. You are making your body into the shape of a stone. Don't get up and don't move, till the dog goes or someone helps you.
SCREAMING, RUNNING, STARING AND MOVING YOUR ARMS ABOUT – WILL ONLY EXCITE OR FRIGHTEN DOGS MORE – be as boring as possible and they will soon go away!
When the dog has gone, go home and tell your family what happened.
Please remember, MOST DOGS’ are friendly and happy to be stroked, but if you are a stranger or hurt them, their feelings would be the same as yours – frightened, worried and in pain. One of their ways to show you this is biting.
TREAT DOGS WITH LOVE, KINDNESS AND RESPECT AND IN RETURN THEY WILL BE ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS EVER!
CHILDREN AND DOGS – for us parents….
“THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT!”
The “Walt Disney” dog is very rare be warned, the work you will take on is enormous as well as the possible heartache.
If you haven’t got a dog already have the family first and dog much later – my own survey filled in by people who have had children and dogs, has proved all the following points I will mention to be vital for success
They all stated it is much harder than you think, the dog doesn’t get the attention they need and they would NOT have a new dog or puppy with a baby, if doing things again or wouldn’t recommend it.
Bearing this in mind, and from my own experiences and education, I will not be mentioning the best way to go about bringing up a new baby and new puppy or dog together – it is not suitable advice for anyone to do, therefore I will not encourage it in any way.
THE RULES FOR SUCCESS.
Take your time looking for a dog. Please consider the needs for each breed of dog and the type of lifestyle they will need to keep them happy. Always remember dogs’ need physical AND mental stimulation, to keep them happy and prevent boredom and behaviour problems occurring.
Choose a good breeder. Talk to more than one breeder and ask advise on what you need to know about the dog. Contacting an all round source of advice like rescue centres, will give you a realistic idea on that type of dogs’ needs.
 Be honest about the time and work you are prepared for – THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BORN GOOD DOG, so don’t take the attitude that your friends dog turned out fantastic so you will buy the same breed. Dogs’ are like children in the sense that they take up a lot of your time.
Consider the cost of owning a dog – insurance, worming, vaccinations, vet bills, food, toys, leads etc., and the cost of kennelling your dog if you wish to go away, for a year – can you really afford it?
Think of all the hair and dirt a dog will bring in – some people do not even think of this. Don’t buy a breed of dog with a long coat that needs a lot of time brushing or professional grooming – unless you are prepared for the work and cost.
Train and socialize your dog properly throughout their life and teach your children from day one how to behave around them – don’t think you can leave it till the dog becomes an adult – that is too late!!
Give your dog his own retreat area, this could be a cage with the door left open or a bed in the corner of a room and teach your children not to bother them when they are in it.
Be careful if your dog is going to be fenced in somewhere, yours or the neighbour’s children could tease it.
If your dog turns out not to like children, you and the children must change your actions around the dog – the dog can’t.
Teach your children the rules about mutual respect and that dogs are not toys.
What your dog tolerates from your children will not be the same with others, they are strangers, and visiting children must obey your ground rules. Don’t expect the dog to.
Do not allow your children to harass your dog teach them the warning signs: - yawning, pacing, moving away, cowed position, raised lip, growling, stiffening, snapping - they give plenty of signs watch for them.
The dog’s things are no go areas for children unless you are there. But do encourage and supervise controlled play between dog and child, teach them to train, play well, feed and groom the dog safely and always get them to wash their hands after.
Discourage chasing or rough and tumble games – especially in puppies, it teaches them this behaviour is OK and can trigger off a dog’s “predatory instincts” – learned behaviour is a lot harder to re-train than teaching the right behaviour in the first place.
Don’t allow left over food be given to dog at table keep them for after.
Keep the dog away from energetic games your children are playing with their friends.
Clean up regularly after your dogs. If you’re too embarrassed to do it on the road – don’t buy a dog - £1000 fine is the penalty if you get caught!
Don’t believe EVER that it is safe for a child to hold a dog on the lead, you always hold a part of it closer to the dog – the fact that you think he is an obedience champion has little to do with it – what about other aggressive dogs approaching from a blind spot and cats’, squirrels or birds suddenly crossing your path, would be enough to tempt even the best behaved dog. DON’T RISK IT. If the child get s caught in the lead or doesn’t let go a serious accident such as being dragged into the road could happen.
Teach children how to react around stranger’s dogs, friend’s dogs, stray dogs and that not all dogs are friendly and why – see my leaflet for children.
TEACH - NEVER TO GO AND SEE PUPPIES OR DOGS’ WITH ANYONE!!
NO DOG IS HARMLESS – DON’T DO IT!! NO CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 12 SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE WITH A DOG.
Extra rules – a new baby!
Your dog is already there, 6 months before baby is due start to drastically reduce its attention gradually, till baby arrives and then try to carry on with everything changed as normal, when baby arrives.
Consider if the dog will be restricted to certain rooms and start now. Baby gates are excellent doors to keep dogs’ out – but still allow them to be close to the family and observe them. Make sure this is all complete – before the baby arrives.
Prams and dogs are difficult believe me! Why not start practicing now it will get the dog used to the pram and any mishaps will happen without the baby present and prepare you for the difficulties involved.
Gradually introducing these changes in your dogs’ routine before the baby arrives prevents jealousy.
Get your dog’s hygiene up to date – make sure they are regularly wormed and vaccinated.
Do some obedience training again to get his standard up again.
Make arrangement’s for the care of the dog when you and your partner are in the hospital when the baby arrives – so he is not abandoned to basics for a couple of days.
Let the dog see and get used to baby equipment and all the new smells.
When you arrive home YOU greet the dog, while someone holds the baby and when the dog has settled introduce the baby.
Don’t keep them totally apart - teach them to interact well.
(Copper and Thomas love playing on the beach together.)
NEVER just pop away from child and dog for 1 minute – it only takes that long for an accident to happen and don’t be fooled by the child is busy at the table – remember how quickly a child’s line of thought can change one minute at the table the next jumped down and landed on a very much startled dog!!
Your dog will now be last in queue for attention – do remember to give extra attention (maybe a treat) when the child is present. Any attention in any respect, the dog receives while the child is present or near will give it a positive effect.
Some people believe in teaching the dog to step back when child starts to walk or crawl – the best way is the dog should be safely behind a baby gate or playing happily with his own toys when this is happening.
AND THATS JUST A GUIDE AND THE START!!!
A dog is a loving, caring animal with feelings to - so lets plan it right!
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