How To Introduce Your Dog To Kids
It can be nerve wrecking to start introducing your dog to kids. There are so many things that could go wrong and it can make you want to skip it all together. Let me help you learn the best way to introduce your dog to kids safely. Continue reading to discover the best way to train your dog to be kid friendly.
Start between 7-16 weeks: This is the best time frame to train your dog to be around kids safely. During this phase dogs are the most susceptible to new training and they will pick up quickly what you’re teaching them. It’s best to start this training when they are young.
Get them used to physical touch: Practice lots of heavy petting with your dog that includes their face and ears. You want to teach kids to be gentle but it’s also incredibly important to get your dog used to being touched if you want them to be safe around kids. Pet their head and gently tug at their ears. Make sure you are never too rough, you don’t want to hurt them but gentle tugging will help get them used to being touched. You want your dog used to being poked and having fingers prodding at them and the best way to do that is by using your own fingers. You want your dog used to behaviors likely to occur with kids. Kids tend to poke and prod so get your dog used to those types of touches so they aren’t alarmed when it happens with a kiddo.
Create a calm and safe environment: The first several times you are introducing your dog to children have it be in your dogs home where they feel the safest. Keep the environment calm to keep your dog at ease. This will provide good experiences for your dog and will get them more comfortable being around children.
Practice invading their space: The reality with kids is that they have no real boundaries. There is a likelihood that being around kids your dog will have their little hands and faces up close in theirs. To keep everyone safe, when you’re training your dog make sure you get them comfortable with people getting in their personal space. Put your hands and face close to theirs and get them used to being face to face.
Help kids understand gentle touches: Along with getting your dog properly trained to be safe with kids, it’s also important to teach kids to be safe around your dog. Make sure they are using safe and gentle touches and never being too rough.
