Dogs and Kids...

Good Morning Everyone,
I hope you're enjoying the cooler weather today, I'm sure it won't last long! The dogs have been loving the last few days!

One thing I've been talking and hearing a lot about is dogs and kids. There is so much to this situation I could never cover it all in the blog. I just wanted to offer some pointers and get your minds thinking about some things and help shed some light on the dog's point of view.

First things first, and it's a serious one. Dogs should NEVER be left unattended with a baby or child, period. Not ever. Not for ten seconds. Those ten seconds, while your making a bottle or grabbing the phone is when something unpleasant is most likely to happen. Please don't ever leave your baby unattended with any dog. Simply crate the dog, put the dog outside or behind a baby gate or bring the baby or dog with you.

Just because your dog is "fine" with kids, doesn't mean he is "good", "great" or really is "happy" with kids. Kids pull ears, grab faces and handfuls of hair and tail, they're noisy, walk funny...jerk, lunge, stumble, trip and falling everywhere and they act injured most of the time. Please don't let your dog become a punching bag or lesson in " be gentle". Would you let your child pull another child's hair? There's a belief that if a gesture was INTENDED kind then it was in fact kind. It's just not so. Your dog has definite boundaries and it's your job to respect and protect those boundaries.

Watch your pups body language. If he gets up and moves, hides under the coffee table or leaves the room, it's obvious he isn't thrilled with the situation. Sulking eyes, lowered ears and head, tail tucked under the body, breathing changes, half moon eye, shaking off, licking his own lips, lifting his lip to show teeth are all direct and clear signs of unhappiness and/or stress.

Help your dog to prepare for children as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Get a stroller to walk the dog with. Google: baby and dog, dog and stork etc. Get a CD of baby noises, walk by a playground to hear and see kids playing, introduce your dog to children (with caution, on neutral territory, after speaking to a professional about exactly how to do intros). Talk to other dog and baby owners that have taken classes, TAKE A BABY AND DOG CLASS!! Not only will you learn a lot, but you'll meet other people in your situation to talk and meet with.

-Just because your dog hasn't bitten yet, doesn't mean he won't.
-Dogs grow INTO aggression, not out of it.
-We need to meet our dogs daily requirements
-Mental and Physical Exercise
-Health and Nutrition
-Social Contact
-Downtime

We sometimes believe if we love our dog and we love our children, that the dog will love our children too. It's just not the case. Some dogs love kids, some don't. Some dogs can be worked with to tolerate kids, some can't. This work has to be done early and management training must take place for life!

I have to run for now, I'll get back with you soon...

Have a great day, and study up if this info pertains to your life!

Mike