by Debbie DeSantis, CPDT, Going to the Dogs Obedience Training, www.topdogtraining.org, (610) 344-7799 

Children and dogs can be a great combination, if the relationship is properly managed. Generally, it’s best to obtain a dog or puppy when children are old enough to understand that it is a living creature with feelings.  The proper dog should first be chosen.  If obtaining a rescue, check with the shelter or rescue group whether the dog is good with children.  If obtaining a puppy, first research the breeds you are considering.  A dog should be chosen for the whole family, not just as a child’s pet.  Although children can help participate in caring for a pup, the ultimate responsibility must remain with the adults.    

Children and dogs should always be supervised when together.  Even the most well-behaved children may accidentally trip on, pull on, or otherwise unintentionally startle or harm a dog if not watched.  Children should be taught to respect the dog as a living creature.  The dog should be given a special space, such as a crate, where it cannot be disturbed.  Also, dogs should not be disturbed while sleeping or eating.  However, all dogs should be trained from the time that they are puppies to willingly give up items on command and to allow people to put their hands in the food bowl.   

You can teach a puppy to release a toy to your hand by having a treat in the other hand.  Tell the pup “give” and praise and reward with the treat when it gives you the toy.  Make the pup sit before feeding and, supervised, have everyone in the family teach the puppy that good things happen as its bowl is approached.  Have them drop a few kibble in when approaching the bowl.  As much as possible, children’s toys and other items should be picked up when not in use, so that the dog doesn’t mistake them for its toys. 

No chasing or tug-of-war games should be played.  Children should never be allowed to tease a dog.  Arms flinging in front of a puppy or dog can elicit mouthing and running can elicit prey drive.  Therefore, try to have children be calm around the dog, especially while the dog is learning how to behave.  There are games you can teach a child, such as having them pretend to be a tree when dealing with the pup.  When a dog is tired and at ease, the child should be taught to gently pet him.  Praise and even reward with a small treat all calm behavior in the dog. Once again, a tired dog will tend to be better-behaved than one with pent-up energy.     

Problems often arise between children and dogs because the dog may see the child as below it in the pack.  Training the dog will help with this issue.  Have a child who is old enough participate in the training.  A responsible child of seven or eight can participate.  First, an adult should train the dog to sit, luring it back into a sit by slowly moving a treat just above its nose backward.  Then, after dog already knows how to sit on command, do some sessions over time with your child.  Have the child clearly, in a firm tone of voice (not screaming), tell the dog to “sit.”  If the dog does not sit, the adult should lure the dog into a sit.  Praise and reward the dog for sitting.  Children can also do the luring if they are able, with supervision.  Have children who are old enough and able to do so participate in training other commands, with supervision.  Having the dog perform such commands helps the dog understand that it is lower in the pack than both adults and children. 

A puppy should generally sleep in its crate, not on a child’s bed.  Using a crate help with housetraining and chewing issues as well as avoiding pack order problems.  Dogs at or above people—especially children—on a physical level may believe that they are above the humans in the pack.  This could potentially lead to many behavior problems.  Only after a dog is well-trained to listen to commands from children and adults alike, has no behavior problems such as resource guarding, and will, upon command, get on and off furniture should one even consider permitting the dog to be on the furniture. 

What if you are about to have a baby and you already have a dog?  Have the dog get used to the sights, smells, and sounds of a baby and items for the baby.  Do these exercises when the dog has been exercised and is tired and calm.  If you have a friendly, calm dog, have it on a loose leash and let it see a friend’s baby nearby.  Praise and reward all calm behavior in the dog.  There are other at-home exercises you can perform.  Have a tape of a baby crying and making other sounds babies make, rewarding calm behavior in the dog.  Have the dog smell baby powder, baby wipes, and other such items nearby that will be used for the baby and reward, so that the dog has positive associations with such items. 

It’s also important before the baby is born to slowly lessen the amount of attention that the dog gets, so that when the baby is born, there won’t be a drastic change from getting sole attention to having to share attention.  Of course, you’ll still want to give the dog attention, training, and exercise after the baby is born.  But the point is that you don’t want the dog to associate the baby’s sudden appearance with getting less attention, so that the baby is not seen as a negative in the dog’s life.  

If you ever see any aggression in your dog or have any other behavior problems that you are not able to manage, please get immediate professional help with a qualified dog trainer or behaviorist.  If you have any questions that you would like to see addressed in a future column, please contact me. Happy training!