It is not meant to be Written in Stone, but I do feel that if we, as parents and as dog owners, began to take more responsibility when sharing spaces with kids and dogs, we can help create a better generation of animal respecting kids. Kids who will grow into kinder individuals because they are being raised to use a certain level of decorum when meeting other Humans, and Dogs.
For Owners:
1. It is Your Responsibility to teach your dog to have some level of tolerance towards children. You may have a dog who doesn't like kids on top of his head, so stop walking him next to the playground attracting attention he doesn't appreciate....Unless you are prepared to label him and are working on the issue in a safe manner. And by safe, I mean, if he can't handle kids, he should be wearing a comfortable basket muzzle just in case someone can't or won't respect his boundaries.
2. Show your dog that kids aren't scary. As much as possible, take your dog places where kids are active and making noise. If your dog has an issue, work with a professional (a good teacher) who can help you show your dog how to tolerate skateboards, bicycles, jumping, running, screaming, etc without allowing kids to "mob" your dog.
If you have a puppy, bring a toy or a stuffed Kong (so long as the dog does not have any issues with resource guarding) to occupy her mouth when you have people and kids pet her. Tell the kids to touch her one at a time, and keep the interaction short. Leave when the kids stop respecting what you are asking, or when your dog is too excited to sit or down politely.
3. Do not chain your dog.
Studies show that a chained dog lacks social tolerance. They are
frustrated, and usually have a lack of human interaction. Chained dogs
are more likely to have territorial guarding issues, due to the small
territory they are provided, and are more likely to bite. A chained,
unattended dog is a victim of teasing (y'know, from those kids whose
parents are not teaching them to respect animals) and begins to see most
approaching humans as a threat. He is also a potential victim for
other wandering dogs or wild animals, as he cannot flee or properly
defend himself.If you do not have a fence, walk your dog. Or at the very least, be outside with him while he is tied up. Creating an overhead trolley runner is a good alternative to the "in the ground" stake, as long as you have set it properly so the dog cannot tangle himself.
If finances are standing in the way of your fence, contact your local city shelter and rescue organizations and find out if your community has fence-building programs; such as the Coalition to Unchain Dogs.
4. At the park, dog park or other public place, do not allow your dog to walk up to kids in strollers. That kid may have dogs at home, and may be just begging to pet your dog, but for all you know, the dog he has at home doesn't mind being poked in the eye; or grabbed by the ear, or kicked in the nose.....Your dog might have a problem with that.Not to mention, some parents of kids in strollers who have dogs at home, might assume that all dogs have the same level of tolerance that their own dog does. They may not be acting as consciously as they should about the way their child touches your dog. Choose wisely here.
5. If you have a dog who is reacting negatively, or aggressively to the sounds, sights and other nonsense that kids provide, please get with a good teacher who will help you.
6. Do not trust your dog.
Kids and dogs should never be left unattended. The worst cases of mauling are usually when a child and a dog were left alone and unsupervised. Grandpa's ol' lab may be a rolling fat tank sweetheart with the visiting grandkids, but now the 5 year old is missing half her face (true story) because they allowed her to play outside in the backyard with him, by herself. No one was watching, and the child attempted to take a bone out of his mouth, and he lost it. At least that was the best the police could surmise from the location of the bone, and where the attack happened.
7. Do not allow your dog to roam about freely. There are leash laws for reasons; adhere to them.
For Parents:
1. It is Your Responsibility to teach your kids that dogs like space. Strange dogs should NEVER be touched until the owner of said dog says it is o.k. to do so.
Big dogs or little dogs, it doesn't matter. Puppies or adult dogs, ASK FIRST. Always.
2. Do not allow your kids to touch or kiss the face of a dog they are being allowed to pet. Especially if you do not know the dog personally. Some dogs may be ok with a pet to the back or the chest, but a small child attempting to grab their head and plant one on their nose is a recipe for disaster.
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| This is not ok. |
3. When you are visiting someone's house, do not allow your children to pester the dog. Recently in the news, there was a severe bite to the face of a young visitor to a party of a celebrity couple. The woman whose child was bitten claimed she asked the hosts to remove the dog, as she felt uncomfortable with it being around her kid.....well, I got news for ya: That was the dogs house. If you feel uncomfortable, you may voice your opinion, but it is your job, as a parent to protect your child. And if the host doesn't want to remove their furry kid, then you should remove yourself, and your kid, from the area. Allowing your child to stay where you aren't comfortable with the situation, is inviting trouble.
On the other hand, as a responsible dog owner, the host probably should have realized the dog wasn't comfortable either, and placed him in a safer, quieter, less-kid traveled zone.
4. Parents, please, please, please stop allowing your wobbly, awkward toddler to go up to dogs at the park without you attached to their hand. Giving your kid a twelve foot head start on the way to the Golden Retriever who is tied to a tree, eight feet away from where her family is playing Frisbee is not a good plan. Not only is your child too young to understand if the dogs' owner calls out "She's not good with kids" but you are too far away to stop it if she rushes at him, and her leash happens to be long enough to reach him.
5. Keep your kids close to you in those big box pet stores!
Letting your children race carts, or each other through the stores allowing dogs inside creates a tense atmosphere. The employees hate you. They may smile as you check through the line, and try their best to grin while your kids race through a "training" class, but inside, they are screaming. It's rude. And your unattended children mobbing some poor shoppers dog two isles away from you, is just not safe.
For Parents Who Are Also Owners:
1. Teach your kids to respect your dog. Things like this photo are why bites happen...well, one of the many many reasons bites happen. This is not a cute picture to me at all. This is an uncomfortable dog.
Give both kids and dogs places to be that are "no zones" to each other.
The dog's bed is the Dogs. The kids bed, or the couch, can belong to the kids. Providing zones and places that are off limits to each other gives both members of the family a space where they know they can leave to; you like that quiet time in your room, without the children, don't you? It is necessary for them to have places they can get away from each others' craziness.
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| *notice how this dog is leaning and trying to stay far away?* |
What if that 45 lb. kid accidentally stomps on the dog's leg in a manner that hurts, and the dog feels like there is nowhere to go? Animals react to pain in different ways; your sweet, mild-mannered Schnauzer may love those grandkids on the floor, eating goldfish crackers and watching cartoons, but he may not love being smashed into the corner of his kennel with a 3 year old on his head.
3. The dogs food dishes are OFF LIMITS when the dog is eating kids.
Seriously. Your dog may not have any kind of aggression issues about his food, but allowing your 4 year old to sit next to him laughing and driving a hot wheels over his body while he is eating, is asking for it. Give the dog some peace.
4. The kids plates and trays are OFF LIMITS when the kid is eating.
Again, there may be something adorable about letting the family Rottweiler clean that highchair tray, but not while the child is in it. You never know what your kid may try, and vice-versa.
5. Stop putting your toddler on the ground at the dog park. Have you any idea how dangerous this is?!?! One second she's up, the next, she's been knocked down by a racing Labrador and smashed by the Husky behind him. She's screaming, you're trying to make her feel better, and oh lovely, she landed in a pile of poop that no one bothered to clean up...awesome parenting guys.
And the runner up to that family, is the one that allows their little kiddle to play barefoot at the dog park, in the watering trough, then marching around near the gate in all that urine. Bare. Feet.
The following statements from the Environmental Protection Agency should sum up why that turns my stomach:
"...it has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans. EPA even estimates that two or three days’ worth of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay, and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it, to swimming and shell fishing.
Dog feces are one of the most common carriers of the following diseases:
- Heartworms
- Whipworms
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Parvo
- Corona
- Giardiasis
- Salmonellosis
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Campylobacteriosis"
What this all really boils down to, is the ol' Ask First.
Weather you have a kid or a dog, or both, taking responsibility for our charges and ourselves requires more. More communication.
More teaching.
More respect.
And above all More Common Sense.
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