Dogs and children

Dogs and children can be the best of friends with dogs even helping children develop kindness, understanding and encourage responsibility to look after them.

Dogs can experience a range of emotions including happiness, anxiety, fear and anger and they communicate these mainly through different parts of their body. This includes their tail, ears and eyes to signal how they are feeling. It’s important to understand your dog’s behaviour so everyone can interact safely.

Children do understand and learn quicky when it comes to treating dogs as family members, but to protect both children and dogs it is crucial that parents teach children how to stay safe around dogs.

There are lots of things that can be done to ensure your child is safe around dogs and to ensure your dog is kept happy.

Here are some top tips to keep children safe around dogs:

• Do not leave your dog on their own with a child at any time.
• If they are close, always monitor the child and dog’s interaction, if the dog looks uncomfortable allow them to move to a safe space.
• Provide a safe space that you dog knows is theirs.
• Teach your child to be polite, kind, respectful and gentle with dogs.
• If out and about, teach your children to never go over to a dog they do not know.
• Teach your child to interact at the right times and to not approach the dog when they are:
  • Sleeping
  • Eating
  • Unwell or having an off day
  • If they have something they really like.

Knowing your dog’s body language

There are some common misconceptions about a dog’s behaviour for example, wagging their tail doesn’t always mean they are happy and yawning dogs are not always tired. Sometimes it can mean that they feel uncomfortable and anxious, so it’s important that you allow them to go somewhere where they feel safe.

Understanding your dog’s behaviour and body language is important and it’s a good idea to be on the look out for any changes as this could be a sign that something is wrong. If you notice any sudden change in your dog’s behaviour, speak to your vet as they are best placed to assess their health and give advice on the best course of action.

To find out more about your dog’s behaviour and body language click the link here.