Dogs And Children...They Can Get Along.

You have a dog and you also have small children but are concerned that one day your dog will turn on the kids because they are so loud and rambunctious.  Do you give the animal up because of your concerns?  Has this already happened and you think the only thing to do is surrender the dog?  Here's some ideas that might help you reconsider this decision.

**What I'm about to say is completely animal dependent and will depend on the personality of the animal.**

What was going on when the incident happened?  If the dog was eating or had just got done eating then the dog is still thinking along the lines of food so anything that gets in the way of that might be considered a threat.  Keep small children, or any child, away from your dog until the dog is COMPLETELY done eating and licking the area around where the food was placed.  If you have an infant then do not let the dog around the child during feeding time as the dog might lick the child and may eventually see the child as a food source.

If the kid(s) are playing rather loudly and making quick movements around a dog that is resting then the dog may be startled and nip the kid(s) to let them know that's not appropriate.  That is what they do to their own children.  This is not aggressive behavior at all but merely behavior modification.  Just tell your children to play elsewhere the dog is tired and wants to nap.

So you're pregnant and the dog is great with you, maybe a little more protective, and you aren't sure how s/he will do once the baby arrives.  There are so many ways to get your dog used to the idea of the new baby such as having him/her around children prior to the birth, letting him/her sniff baby clothes, mention the baby's name a lot, etc.  Making it the most positive experience for the dog and for you is key.

This link is to a wonderful behaviorist who can answer any questions you may have as to appropriate introductions or any issues you may be having.  She has dealt a lot with rescue animals and has a rescue pittie (pit bull) herself (you have to ask her about Windsor if you contact her).  Her name is Jennifer Shryock and the business name is Family Paws.

http://familypaws.com/

It is also extremely important to remember that no matter how much training your dog has had or how good the dog is with children you must NEVER leave them alone together.  Anything can happen by accident and you MUST teach your children how to interact with any animal appropriately.  You, as the parents, are the key to that success.

There are trainers you can contact as well if you want to work on some things with your dog or have questions or need to start your puppy in some basic classes.  One trainer I am personally a fan of (I used them when I had my rottweiler and they worked wonders with her and me) is:

http://www.nck9solutions.com/

They are extremely professional and very easy to work with.  Donnie was my trainer and if you don't have a thick skin and can handle some direct constructive criticism then they have other very qualified trainers as well.

Above all, make sure everyone is safe and remember your dog is just that...a dog and not a human.  Responsible parenting doesn't stop with the non-furry children.  It extends to the furry ones as well.  Click on the above links or check out my other post about introducing pets to children to get some more ideas on this topic.

As always, we welcome questions, comments and topics you'd like to see discussed here.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and be sure your family and friends know about us as well.  Thanks for reading!