Kindy Ecobaby
  • Home
    • Mummy's Mini Starter Pack
    • 3 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners - 300 sheets
    • 3 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners - 300 sheets 18cm
    • 6 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners - 600 sheets
    • 6 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners 600 sheets 18cm
    • Bamboo Breast Pads
    • Bamboo Wet Wipes
    • Bamboo Wet Wipes 6pack
    • Nappy Inserts Charcoal Bamboo Pack of 5, 10 & 20
    • Nappy Inserts Slim Cream Bamboo Pack of 5, 10 & 20
    • Eco Nappies: Disposable
    • Pack of Four Babyland Unisex Cloth Nappies!!
    • Minky Modern Cloth Nappy - Bamboo lined velcro!!
    • Very Cool Wet Bag/Library Bag Great Designs!!
    • Kindy Sheet Bags in Eight Great Designs: Waterproof Too!!
    • Baby Shower Gift Pack!
    • Eco Baby Shop Testimonials
    • E-BayShop
    • Invite a Friend and Get $20 Off!
    • Become a Stockist
  • Baby News
  • Blog
    • Royal Baby George
    • Serious News
  • Contact
  • Directory
    • Online Shops
    • Brisbane Directory >
      • Acupuncture, Massage + Holistic Therapists
      • Babysitters+In-Home Childcare
      • Baby and Kids Toy Stores
      • Chemists
      • Children's Classes
      • Creative Programmes
      • Dentists
      • Dentists + Doctors
      • Equipment/Toy Hire
      • Just For You
      • Kids Entertainers
      • Kindergartens >
        • Auchenflower
        • Ashgrove
        • Brookfield
        • Bardon
        • Chapel Hill
        • Chelmer
        • Fig Tree Pocket
        • Graceville
        • Highgate Hill
        • Indooroopilly
        • Rosalie
        • Oxley
        • Paddington
        • St Lucia
        • Toowong
        • Victoria Point
        • West End
      • Maternity Clothes
      • Medical Specialists
      • Museums, Amusement Parks + Other Attractions
      • PartyPlanning+Supplies
      • Photographers
      • Pharmacies
      • Sports + Outdoors
      • Tutoring + Education Services
    • Sydney Directory >
      • Babysitters+In-Home Childcare
      • Baby + Kids Clothes and Accessories
      • PartyPlanners+Supplies
      • Pharmacies
      • Sports + Outdoors
      • Photographers
      • Tutoring + Education Services
    • Perth Directory >
      • Kids Entertainers
    • Playgroups >
      • Brisbane Groups
  • Mums&Dads
    • Forum
    • Child Care >
      • ConversationStarters
      • Kids Health
      • Kids Gym
      • Babysitting
    • Advice for Parents >
      • Learn >
        • Fit Brains!
        • Creativity
      • ReadyforKindy
      • Swimming Tips >
        • Sue's Swimming Tips >
          • Goggles or Not?
          • Swimming on the Edge
      • Growing Feet
    • Recipes >
      • Sweet Treats for Kids >
        • Rasberry Brownies
        • Cupid's Cupcakes
        • Cutie Cupcake
  • Grandparents
  • Kids
    • Free Fun
    • Games >
      • FishSmartyFun
    • Fashion
    • Art >
      • ArtBlog
    • Pets
  • Features
    • SuperMum
    • Losing Stuff
    • Tykes on Bikes
    • Free Swimming
    • Baby Understands Me!
    • Tame Kids’ Clutter
    • Babies make friends
    • Kids on a Plane
    • Parties
  • Games
  • Pack of Four Unisex Cloth Nappies!!

Kids and Dogs: How  Kids Should Interact with Dogs

9/10/2012

3 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
When a child is bitten by a four-legged family member, it can turn the household upside-down. Owners feel puzzled and confused. “They sleep together all the time,” they might say, or, “He’s always been really good. He even lets Timmy sit on him.” In a majority of cases, the bite seems out of the blue. The humans can’t fathom why their once-trusted companion would bite an innocent child. But anyone who reads “dog” or can see life from the pet’s point of view would most likely say, “I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”

The fact is, a quick perusal of YouTube or a thorough investigation of a bite reveals that often the bite occurs because humans, especially children, are extremely rude. Parents may view their kid’s behaviors as cute and assume that because their dog is tolerating the behavior now, he will have an endless fuse and always put up with it, rather than eventually exploding. In other words, parents expect dogs to behave like saints, even when they are pestered to the point that would try the average human’s patience and cause her to blow up!

For instance, I recall one tragic case where an infant was left at home with the babysitter and the family pitbull. The infant was allowed to incessantly crawl after the dog, tailing the dog as if she was an armed criminal. He followed her from corner to corner as she kept trying to get away from the baby, but the dog had no escape. While the parents were able to take a “vacation” from their child by hiring a babysitter and leaving the house, the dog was left at home to fend for herself. Ordinarily, a person being pestered this way with no way to escape would eventually turn and yell and possibly even resort to violence. A dog might do the same—turn and bark, snarl, or growl. But when all of these early signs are ignored, escalation to a bite can be the next step. Unfortunately, a bite by any large dog at her wits end can cause serious damage to a child, and in this case it resulted in death.

More often than not, cases where the dog bites a young child are tragic—often more so for the dog. The dog may be relinquished to a shelter, where he has a low probability of safe adoption. Or he may be euthanized after a quarantine period. The worst part of the story is that these bites could often have easily been prevented just by understanding the types of actions that drive a dog to feel bullied or pestered so much that he feels he has to bite.

Return To Homepage

"More often than not, cases where the dog bites a young child are tragic— often more so for the dog"  

Picture
Understanding What the Actions that Might Cause the Family Dog to Bite are Common Sense

In fact, understanding what can drive a dog to bite the family kids is pretty simple. They are the same things that drive humans to need a break from their kids.

Reason 1: 
For instance, most people dislike it when others stick their grimy hands in their meal. Similarly, dogs want to eat in peace. 

Reason 2:
We teach children that it’s clearly wrong to steal toys from each other. It’s also rude to steal toys from the dog. Kids should be taught to leave Fido’s toys alone. To build in a tolerance in case the child makes a mistake when your attention has lapsed, dogs should be trained to give up their toy for a reward or even a sequence of rewards. That way, they will willingly give the child the toy instead of feeling possessive. (See Perfect Pup in 7 Days, chapters 1 and 6 .) 


Reason 3: Kids frequently can’t help but get in your face. They often have to be trained to maintain the appropriate social distance. Similarly, putting your face into a dog’s face, even if it’s all in the family, can be irritating to the dog, especially when the dog has no control over the child’s behavior.


Reason 4: Most people dislike being disturbed when they are resting or sleeping. But fortunately for us humans, we can often close or lock our bedroom door. Similarly, dogs need a safe location where they can be away from kids and excitement. Kids should avoid bugging them in their “private” location or any time they are sleeping or resting. If they call the dog from far away and the dog chooses to get up and come over to the child, this type of interaction is okay. But if the dog chooses to be left alone, he should be.


Reason 5:
Kids dislike being handled roughly, and so do dogs. Dogs can be trained to tolerate or sometimes even enjoy this handling, so that they are not reactive when an accident occurs (SeePerfect Puppy in 7 Days, chapters 1 and 6), but in general children should be taught to be polite.


Reason 6:
It’s rude to climb on, step on, or otherwise invade someone’s personal space. It’s also rude to do the same things with dogs.


Reason 7: 
Loud screaming can frazzle humans, imagine its effect on the more sound-sensitive dog!


Reason 8:
We often forget that even some friendly gestures, such as pinching a child’s cheeks, may be irritating. In general, dogs dislike being hugged, even by family members. You can tell by the expression on their face. (See the Body Language of Fear and Anxiety in Dogs poster and chapter 7 in Perfect Puppy in 7 Days.) You can train dogs, especially as puppies, to enjoy cuddling and hugging (See Perfect Puppy In 7 Days chapters 1 and 6) and other close handling. But even so, it’s important for children to know the types of interactions their pet likes and also to realize that other dogs may not have the same tolerance as their dog does.

More Stories

3 Comments
play centres for kids link
9/26/2012 06:55:31 pm

Hello there! I must tell you the blog post is really good. It is very informative. I want to mention one thing that I like the way you write the post to the point. I really appreciate and keep writing!

Reply
dog costum link
8/27/2013 08:29:51 pm

I have been reading many articles on the same issue but found this one uniquely written. You covered almost every point over the topic. I don’t feel need to read any other article on this topic now.

Reply
Vera Robbins link
9/14/2013 01:36:27 am

Please let me know what it cost to use the image of the boy with a blacken eye and his dog with a blacken eye. My company would like to purchase usage of the image.

Thank you,
email us today @ verarobbins@yahoo.com

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2017
    March 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Author

    _ KindyNews is a fun and interesting news publication for parents of kids aged seven and under. It is also the place to go for all your eco friendly baby product needs!

    Categories

    All
    Breaking News
    Childcare
    Child Health
    Children
    Christie
    Christies Columns
    Education
    Health
    How To
    Issues
    Jumping Castles
    Kids
    Kj
    Mums
    Opinion Content
    Parenting
    Parenting Advice
    Parents
    Parties
    Pets
    Pinky
    Pinky's Columns
    Play
    Serious News
    Social Media
    Sue's Columns
    Technology

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.