Tips for Successful Interactions Between Your Dog and Your Children
Looking for tips to make sure your dog and your kids get along happily and safely? Then you have come to the right place! As a dedicated Portland-based dog trainer with years of experience, I understand the excitement and the challenges that come with introducing a pet to a growing family. From wagging tails to playful barks, witnessing the bond between a child and their dog can be a truly magical experience. However, navigating this dynamic does require patience, understanding, and a few key strategies to ensure a safe and positive environment for both your canine companion and your child. In this post, I'll share three tips to get you started on cultivating a happy relationship between your kids and your dog.
Tip 1: Set Boundaries
When beginning a relationship between your child and a dog, it is important to establish clear boundaries. Most often, this means that you’ll need to set up clear rules for your child about how and when they can interact with your dog. To help establish your boundaries, make sure your dog has a space that is theirs, like a kennel or a dog bed. Set boundaries with your children so they know that space is reserved for your dog and they are not to be disturbed or engaged with when they are in their safe space.
Especially when you are welcoming a new dog into your family home, it’s important to remember that you can talk to your child about respecting their new furry family member, but you can’t talk to the dog. Set clear expectations for how your child will engage with the new dog in their life early on to help start their relationship off the right way.
Tip 2: Intentional Play
Purposeful interactions are key to a successful relationship between children and dogs. Make sure that any play time is intentional and focused so that both your children and your dog can establish what play time looks like. Having toys that are set aside for play time between your dog and children can help to materialize a routine.
Including your children in your training time with your dog is also a great way to build respect and trust. Encourage your children to participate in training practice. This not only helps socialize your dog with a variety of people but is also a great way to involve your children in the care of your dog.
Tip 3: Always Supervise
Above all else, supervising your children's interactions with your dog is the most important thing you can do when introducing a dog and child. Even if you think they are in the clear, it’s important to continue to supervise their interactions to ensure proper boundaries are kept and play remains intentional from both the child and the dog.
By following these three initial tips, you will be well on your way to building a successful and harmonious relationship between your kids and your pets. Need help establishing a training routine that includes your whole family? Welcoming a new pet and want to get off on the right paw? Reach out to learn more about how we can help with your dog training needs.
