Dogs are such a great addition to a child’s life. They are good for kids’ health and development. But the combination can sometimes take effort. Here are some tips, whether you’re adding a dog, adding a kid, or already have a full house.
Back to School
It’s that time of year, and when kids head back to school it’s an adjustment. The activity in the house calms down a lot during the day. Give your dog lots of exercise and try to stick to a routine to make her life easier during the transition. When you and the kids come home, greet your dog calmly to keep her anxiety down, and let her outside after a few minutes if she needs to go to the bathroom.
Kids Should Learn Dog Language
All kids, even those without dogs, should know how to read the cues that dogs send. Teach your kids the basics of dog body language, and they’ll be safer at home and out and about.
Have them watch out for ears back, tail down and teeth showing. Show them how to greet a new dog by quietly letting the dog approach and then petting the dog on his sides or back, not his head or face.
Dogs Need Some Time to Adjust to a Baby
When a new baby comes home, a dog’s world turns upside down. But dog and baby can learn to be buddies. When you first bring baby home, let the dog briefly meet the baby and slowly increase the amount of time they spend together. At first, the dog might annoy the baby with kisses and sniffs, but about 6 months later the baby will be bugging the dog. Just try to give your dog as much attention as possible during the transition so he knows you didn’t forget about him.
Kids Can Cause Bad Habits in Puppies
Getting a puppy and training her is always a challenge, but with kids it’s even harder. For one, there’s more chaos in the house. But more importantly, the most important aspect of training is consistency. The adults in the house make the rules, but if the kids don’t enforce them with the puppy, you could run into problems. An example of this is with jumping up. If the dog is allowed to jump up on some family members, they’ll end up doing the same to guests. Teach your children the rules and how to enforce them.
Accidents Happen
Even with the dogs and kids are the best of friends, be prepared for accidents. Kids can accidentally step on dogs’ toes, and vice versa. Handle your dog to get him used to things like touching his tail and ears. That will help him react better if a kid gets grabby. Remind your kids to be gentle and careful around the dog. Beyond that, just be prepared with a first aid kit and the vet’s phone number.