Safety Guidelines for New Babies and Young Children
Most of the time dogs and children get along just fine. Unfortunately this is not always the case. The following guidelines are meant as an overview of things to consider ensuring a safe and happy relationship between pets and kids. There is no need to panic, but it would be naïve and negligent to not be careful. We do many things to safeguard our children like using car seats, or having them wear helmets. Why not apply the same safety considerations to their relationship with dogs. Sometimes problems arise that people are uncertain how to handle or interpret. Examples would be a dog growling or jumping boisterously. If you are not sure how to deal with these types of situations, it would be wise to seek professional advice. Every age a child goes through presents different challenges. Here are some ideas to consider:
Before Your New Baby is Born and Comes Home:
- Recognize you will have less time for your dog. This is especially a problem if your dog is used to getting all the attention they want on demand. Practice ignoring your dog so they can learn to adjust and learn to be a little more independent. This doesn’t mean neglect your dog. They still need you. It means more structure and better time management. It means you decide when you give attention, not your dog. Teach your dog a command to “Go” or back up, so this won’t come as a shock when you need space to attend to your baby.
- Practice leaving bassinets and car seats around. Teach your dog not to put their feet in them or jump up on them.
- If you haven’t already done so, teach your dog basic commands and use them throughout your day. A trained dog is a calmer dog and an easier to manage dog who can understand limitations.
- Scent is important to a dog so bring home blankets or clothing with the babies scent from the hospital/birthing area to get your dog familiar with the babies scent.
- Establish a safe and comfortable place for your dog to retreat to so they will not feel overwhelmed and over stimulated in all the excitement. If your dog has a crate use it, if not use a comfortable room away from household commotion. Most dogs act like they want to be right in the middle of all the excitement all the time, but for many dogs it becomes stressful, and like a young child they won’t on their own find a comfortable place to unwind, but will instead get over excited and cranky. This space is not meant to exile your dog but it is meant for them to have a place to retreat to, which will be more important when your baby starts to move around.
When You Bring Your Baby Home
- Greet you dog as you usually do. Don’t make a big fuss and get them excited, and don’t ignore them.
- Allow the dog to smell the baby. If you have an over zealous dog use a leash and/or keep your hand over the baby where your dog is smelling. By having your hand there, your dog would have to push your hand away to make physical contact and it is also an extra safety precaution as well as a way to teach your dog to not abruptly poke their done on your baby.
- Never leave a baby alone with a dog. Keep either the dog or the baby with you.
- Remember, not all accidents with dogs are because of dog bites. Little fragile people can get hurt by dogs jumping, pawing, walking on your baby, or getting knocked over.
- Don’t hesitate to tell your dog to “Go”. Do so calmly and firmly. You don’t want to create nervousness, but you don’t want to cater to a demanding dog. If a dog is needy for attention you will never satisfy them. Set limits. Give attention when you see fit.
- Teach your dog to walk gently by and not push through your baby.
Toddlers
- This is probably the most dangerous time for a baby because they are moving all over the place. As your child gets more mobile they are able to get to things that previously were inaccessible.
- Remember, toddlers do crazy things like throw stuff, grab, pinch, pull, and sometimes hit. A toddler has no way to understand that this might hurt or provoke a dog. Supervision is crucial at this age.
- This is a good time to help teach your child how to interact with your dog. Have them throw a toy for the dog. Teach them how to hold their hand flat and offer a treat.
- Teach your dog not to grab food from your child and to only take it only when it is offered.
- Be careful to keep your toddler away from your dog’s food, toys, and to not bother them while they are sleeping. This is a good time to use the safe place I referred to above.
- Don’t expect a toddler to understand reason. You be the one to move the dog or child away as is appropriate.
Young Children
- One of the number one causes of dog bites with children is a child innocently going over to and petting a dog. Your dog may be fine, but many dogs are not. Teach your child to NEVER pet a dog without asking permission first. This includes a dog you pet yesterday. Many dogs react differently when their owners are not present.
- Hopefully your child will learn to both love and respect animals. Creating fear is not the goal, teaching safety is. This is a message that your child will not absorb if it is not repeated and practiced.
- Teach children not to run if they encounter a strange dog. Back away slowly and calmly while not making eye contact with the dog. Get an adult.
- Teach your children not to tease dogs, Kids don’t understand throwing things at fences, barking back at dogs, and running around yelling can create an aggressive reaction.
- If you have a dog, teach them not to chase running children, bicycles, kids on skateboards, etc.
- Teach your children to let a dog come to them, extend a hand for the dog to smell, and pet gently, all after getting permission from the dog’s owner. Teach them how to gently approach and not rush over and give big hugs that many dogs would misinterpret resulting in a bite.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of this advise or any other questions, please contact me at (860) 667-1847 or laurie@lauriefassdogtraining.com. When children and dogs get along well together it is a wonderful experience, with a little bit of planning and foresight, there is no reason for it to be anything else.