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!

Introducing A Pet To Children...The Safe Way

Having a baby is a very exciting and busy time for a couple.  If it's the first child and you have a pet then the stress can be heightened even more because what if the pet doesn't like the baby?  What if the baby is allergic to the pet?  Lots of questions with seemingly nowhere to find the answers.  Well here's some answers to some all to frequently asked questions.

First, you don't have to give up your cat because you are having a baby.  It won't smother your baby.  That is an old wives tale that is not true.  Your cat can get a long with your baby just fine with some ground rules just like anything else.  As your child grows then he/she will need to learn how to interact with the cat as well.  This goes for dogs too because kids do not automatically know how to treat animals.  They have to be taught and they will learn by watching their parents as well.

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/DogCareArticle.aspx?title=Introducing_Your_Pet_to_a_Baby

http://familypaws.com/

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pets_babies.html

Another cool fact is you may not even know you are pregnant but your pet will.  You may wonder why they are all of a sudden more clingy or more protective or having elimination issues or want more attention than normal.  If it's possible you may be pregnant then you might want to test because dogs and cats have an extraordinary sense for this type of thing and can sense hormonal changes.

Ok.  So the test is positive.  Congratulations!  Now what?  Just enjoy being pregnant and involve your pet.  Once you decide on a name then you can say the name a lot so your pet hears it and gets used to it because you'll be saying it all the time anyway.  Let your pet sniff the baby's clothing.  Make this a positive experience for them as well.  Making the nursery off limits is fine but the pet must know his/her limits in a positive, non-disciplinary manner so as not to let the pet feel the baby is bad.  Baby gates to the nursery as a barrier are a good way to keep the pet out while still allowing him/her to view what's going on and feel a part of the family.

 All of this being said, not all animals will love your children as much as you do so if your cat or dog is attacking you and you are pregnant it's important to look into whether or not he/she doesn't like children or if it is a medical condition.  Do not assume you must give up your furry family member because you have a non-furry family member being added to the picture.  We can learn a great deal from our pets.

I hope this has helped some of you and maybe sparked some thought in others.  I've included some links to some of the experts that can give some more feedback and support as well.

As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns please let us know and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Also, click the follow button on this page as well.

Spending time with family

I spent time with my family today.  They have an infant and a 5 year old German Shephard Dog.  While we were pretty sure how Admiral, the dog, would do with the baby, one never knows. The parents talked about the baby, said his name often, let Admiral smell his clothes, etc.  Admiral is now more protective of Greyson than anything else. He loves him and is extremely careful and patient with him. 

Just because there's an additionto the family doesn't mean the family pet has to leave.  We will post more information about ways to integrate the two.

As always, please give us your feedback, comments about the topic and suggestions on future topics.