Ghosts!

Unfortunately there are many unpleasant experiences with dogs and kids. Some kids don’t like dogs; some dogs don’t like kids; and sometimes the feeling is mutual. If you have kids and also want a dog, you may worry that they won’t be compatible which is why training a dog for children is key. Since the last thing you want is a bad-tempered dog that isn’t safe to be around kids, you might consider giving up the idea of obtaining a dog altogether.

Of course, in most cases dogs and kids get along great! After all, they seem to be on the same level and most develop a strong bond, but one can’t be too careful and an unfortunate incident can have long lasting effects. For this reason you want to take some extra steps to err on the side of caution.

Training a dog for children is actually not very difficult, but part of that is training your children to be kind around your dog. This is a two way relationship and responsibility must be on both sides. You want to make sure you train your dog not to nip, but or jump up before he is exposed to small children and this will go a long way in warding off problems.

A dog that does not display unnecessarily aggressive behavior is a good idea if there will be small children in the home. If they have a calm and easy demeanor they will be more easily trained to play and cooperate with your children and you. Children must also know that the new dog is not a plaything; it is never a good idea to subject a new dog to unusual rough play as they may become violent or scared. Your dog should not feel the need to defend itself by biting your child nor should they fear your child.

If you are bringing a new pet into your home, it would be good to have a series of talks with your children beforehand to let them know how to treat a pet and how to be gentle and considerate of the pet’s feelings. If they have had pets before they will understand this but you can still let them know that a new pet will be a little scared and unfamiliar with them and so they should take it easy with their new pet. It would also be smart to supervise the children and the pet at first to make sure neither one is too aggressive or hyper.

When deciding on a dog your prospective dog’s personality should play an important role if you also have young children. Training a dog for children is easy if the dog has a sweet personality. If you have really small children, you might want a smaller dog. A dog that is both energetic and can be controlled is a good match for a home with older children.