How to Train Your Dog to Safely Be Around Children

We have all read the many articles in the news about dogs atacking small children, even babies, and many believe that dogs are by nature violent, but this is simply not true. Dogs are animals (so are humans) and can resort to violence when they are mistreated or feel threatened.

This article will explain how to socialise your dog around small children so that you can have peace of mind that your dog will not attack your own or somebody else's children.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. First off, you need to realise that your dog is an animal with a will of its own and thinks and generally acts in its best interest. It is therefore important that no matter what you do that you always seek to treat your dog well. Never hit your dog. Never allow your dog to do things such as jump up on you. Never abuse or neglect your dog. In short, dogs are like children: if you treat them well, with respect, provide them their needs and love them, you will have a great relationship with them.

2. Train your dog using positive reinforcement techniques. It is essential that before you ever think about allowing your dog to be near small children that they are well trained and under your command. This means that you should teach your dog how to sit, stay, "leave it" (meaning your dog freezes), and other commands that give you complete power of your dog. Your dog should also come when you call him/her.

3. After you have trained your dog it is time to introduce your dog to your child. The way to do this is the classic way that human first came to befriend wolves, that is, with your child offering a treat to the dog. If your child is old enough that you can talk to him/her, then make sure to explain the basics: dogs should always be apporached with you palm facing upward and below their muzzle. You should never feel scared around a dog because if a dog senses fear, then they might think that they are in a threatening situation an react accordingly. Make sure you child knows to treat your dog with respect.

4. The way to have your child offer a treat to your dog is by putting the treat in their palm face up. You should train your dog not to take the treat until you say it is okay. You do this by physically blocking the treat with your own hand whilst sayng "leave it" over and over and then say "take it" when the dog can have the treat. The dog will not get it at first, so it is essential that you physically prevent the dog from taking the treat until you are ready for him/her to do so.

5. ALways have the child give the dog treats before and whilst they are interacting. Always make sure your child treats the dog with respect, never pulls its tail or grabs its muzzle. Always make sure the child is nice to your dog at all times.

6. Make sure your dog is well exercised. There was a case in the UK not long ago when a dog attacked a baby and they found out the dog had not been on a walk for several months and had been chained up outside without any human contact as well. If you abuse and neglect an animal it will become dangerous. A well exercised dog is much less likely to attack anyone.

7. One school of thought also recommends establishing dominence, such as wrestling with your dog (see: How to Wrestle With Your Dog Without Getting Hurt (or Hurting Your Dog) and winning by pinning the dog down, not letting the up right away and then giving them a treat after. You should always conduct every interaction with your dog in a friendly and positive way.

8. Make sure your dog has boundaries and that you reward your dog when it respects these boundaries. Your dog should not have free run of the house. Make the living room a room in which the dog needs permission to enter. When the dog enters without permission, say "wrong!" to the dog and escort them out of the room. When they leave the room, give the dog a treat. When the dog respects boundaries and does not enter the room, give them a treat. Make sure to notice when the dog is acting well, as opposed to only recognising bad behaviour, and reward them for it.

9. Make sure that the dog has positive internaction, under your supervision at all times, with your child. You should never leave a dog alone with children unless you have 100% trust in the animal and then only if it is absolutely necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Dogs need daily attention and lots of exercise.
• A well respected dog with all of its needs fulfilled is not going to attack people.
• You should never seek to own an attack dog, nor should you ever own a "guard dog."
• If ou have an out of control dog and you don't see ever getting it in control, have it put down. No exceptions.