Learning all about dogs for kids can help your children interact with dogs safely in the home and outside. It will ensure not only your child’s safety but also your dog’s.
If you’re introducing your kids to dogs soon but aren’t sure how to go about it, you’ve come to the right place. Our guide on how to teach your kids to interact with dogs covers all you need to know to guide your kids to safely interact with dogs and develop a healthy bond with their new best friend!
What’s the Best Time to Introduce Your Child to a Dog?
It depends.
Whether you have a younger child and an older dog or an older child and a puppy, introducing children to dogs is a unique experience.
It’s important to consider your child’s receptiveness toward the dog as well as the dog’s disposition before introducing them.
If you’re wondering how do I teach my toddler to interact with my dog, you can start with using stuffed animals to give them practical lessons on gentle play. Get a dog-shaped stuffed toy and mimic a gentle petting action and have your toddler repeat it. You can then slowly bring your kid around the dog and have them gently touch and pet your pet.
If you’re bringing a puppy home, however, you may be worried about little kids interacting with little puppies, both of whom are delicate. So, if you’re concerned about how do I teach my child to interact with puppies, the following tips may help.
8 Lessons to Teach Your Kids About Interactions With Dogs
Whether you’re introducing your kids to meet a neighbor’s dog or one you’re adopting, preparing them for the interaction is necessary.
Here are some simple lessons to teach your kids when interacting with a dog or a puppy.
- Ask for Permission and Show Respect
Before you ask how do I teach my child to be around dogs, you need to learn how to introduce them first.
Teaching your kids how to respect dogs starts with teaching them that they ought to ask for permission first. Ask your child to greet the dog owner and seek their permission before approaching the dog. Owners will have more knowledge about the dog’s temperament and what they prefer.
After asking for the owner’s permission, it is also necessary to teach your kids how to interact with dogs. Teach them to approach dogs slowly, allowing the dog to respond. They should also avoid running towards or away from a dog.
The easiest way to go about it is to let the child take a slow step toward the dog and wait for the dog to come to them.
- Teach Them How to Be Gentle
Wondering how to teach your older child or how to teach a toddler to be gentle with a dog?
Start by explaining the difference between rough play and gentle play. Teach them that any kind of pulling, stomping, poking, kicking, etc., is unacceptable. Reinforce the message a couple of times if the child is too young to remember.
Don’t forget to teach your kids how to use a gentle voice when calling dogs. Explain to them how loud yelling or loud noises can impact the dog.
- Learn the Right Way to Show Affection
How should kids interact with dogs, especially when they’re trying to show them affection or play with them?
Children adopt their affectionate ways from their parents. While most dogs will appreciate light petting, many do not like tight hugs or kisses. Some may even respond violently, finding such behavior aggressive.
Lessons on how to teach your child to respect animals or show affection will also help if you’re planning to adopt pets later on.
Give your children a lesson in good petting by showing them how to let the dog sniff your hand before petting. After all, teaching your child to respect the dog will also help with training the dog and help with how to teach a dog to respect a child.
- Read the Dog’s Body Language
Dogs don’t speak, but they do express themselves through their body and behavior.
Or, as Orhan Pamuk puts it, “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
Teach your kids to look for any signs a dog is uncomfortable with a child or humans in general and the appropriate response to these cues. Start with aggressive behaviors like growling or showing teeth and move on to the more subtle signs like a defensive posture, tensing of the body, licking the lips, or looking away.
- Give the Dog Space
Explain to your kids how dogs, too, love their toys, treats, and personal space just as much as humans. Make sure your child understands that they shouldn’t bother the dog if it’s sleeping, eating, or playing by itself.
- Involve the Kids in Training
“Dog training is a never-ending process of evolving.” — Ivan Balabanov
Take the lessons in child safety around dogs a step ahead by letting your kids learn how to train dogs properly. It sets a great example of respectful communication while also removing any fear of canines. Start with simple training tips, like giving out treats safely by putting the treat on your kid’s palm and telling them to hold the fingers together.
However, make sure you explain why a certain behavior is important or being avoided; don’t just tell them what to do.
- Learn More About Dogs
Children who have not been around dogs much are often very curious about them. And they’ll have a lot of questions on their mind daily, such as, “can dogs eat peaches” or “can dogs eat chocolates” or wonder what kind of tricks they can teach the dog.
Allow them to ask what’s on their mind. While you may not have all the answers, you can spend some time looking up the answers with your kid and compile your own guide full of tips and tricks on all about dogs for kids!
- Always Play Under Supervision
The most important lesson when letting your kids and dogs play together is to never let them out of your sight. However, that’s more of a lesson for the parents than the kids.
Here’s what Mette Morgan suggests,
“When you teach them, supervise their first few visits. Children can be loud, erratic, and scary to any pet.”
In Conclusion
Introducing your kids to lessons on safe interactions with dogs is the gift of a lifetime. We hope our guide to all about dogs for kids helps you prepare your child for a happy life surrounded by happy dogs!
If you’re wondering how do I teach my toddler to interact with my dog, you can start with using stuffed animals to give them practical lessons on gentle play. Get a dog-shaped stuffed toy and mimic a gentle petting action and have your toddler repeat it. You can then slowly bring your kid around the dog and have them gently touch and pet your pet.
If you’re bringing a puppy home, however, you may be worried about little kids interacting with little puppies, both of whom are delicate. So, if you’re concerned about how do I teach my child to interact with puppies, the following tips may help.
8 Lessons to Teach Your Kids About Interactions With Dogs
Whether you’re introducing your kids to meet a neighbor’s dog or one you’re adopting, preparing them for the interaction is necessary.
Here are some simple lessons to teach your kids when interacting with a dog or a puppy.
- Ask for Permission and Show Respect
Before you ask how do I teach my child to be around dogs, you need to learn how to introduce them first.
Teaching your kids how to respect dogs starts with teaching them that they ought to ask for permission first. Ask your child to greet the dog owner and seek their permission before approaching the dog. Owners will have more knowledge about the dog’s temperament and what they prefer.
After asking for the owner’s permission, it is also necessary to teach your kids how to interact with dogs. Teach them to approach dogs slowly, allowing the dog to respond. They should also avoid running towards or away from a dog.
The easiest way to go about it is to let the child take a slow step toward the dog and wait for the dog to come to them.
- Teach Them How to Be Gentle
Wondering how to teach your older child or how to teach a toddler to be gentle with a dog?
Start by explaining the difference between rough play and gentle play. Teach them that any kind of pulling, stomping, poking, kicking, etc., is unacceptable. Reinforce the message a couple of times if the child is too young to remember.
Don’t forget to teach your kids how to use a gentle voice when calling dogs. Explain to them how loud yelling or loud noises can impact the dog.
- Learn the Right Way to Show Affection
How should kids interact with dogs, especially when they’re trying to show them affection or play with them?
Children adopt their affectionate ways from their parents. While most dogs will appreciate light petting, many do not like tight hugs or kisses. Some may even respond violently, finding such behavior aggressive.
Lessons on how to teach your child to respect animals or show affection will also help if you’re planning to adopt pets later on.
Give your children a lesson in good petting by showing them how to let the dog sniff your hand before petting. After all, teaching your child to respect the dog will also help with training the dog and help with how to teach a dog to respect a child.
- Read the Dog’s Body Language
Dogs don’t speak, but they do express themselves through their body and behavior.
Or, as Orhan Pamuk puts it, “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
Teach your kids to look for any signs a dog is uncomfortable with a child or humans in general and the appropriate response to these cues. Start with aggressive behaviors like growling or showing teeth and move on to the more subtle signs like a defensive posture, tensing of the body, licking the lips, or looking away.
- Give the Dog Space
Explain to your kids how dogs, too, love their toys, treats, and personal space just as much as humans. Make sure your child understands that they shouldn’t bother the dog if it’s sleeping, eating, or playing by itself.
- Involve the Kids in Training
“Dog training is a never-ending process of evolving.” — Ivan Balabanov
Take the lessons in child safety around dogs a step ahead by letting your kids learn how to train dogs properly. It sets a great example of respectful communication while also removing any fear of canines. Start with simple training tips, like giving out treats safely by putting the treat on your kid’s palm and telling them to hold the fingers together.
However, make sure you explain why a certain behavior is important or being avoided; don’t just tell them what to do.
- Learn More About Dogs
Children who have not been around dogs much are often very curious about them. And they’ll have a lot of questions on their mind daily, such as, “can dogs eat peaches” or “can dogs eat chocolates” or wonder what kind of tricks they can teach the dog.
Allow them to ask what’s on their mind. While you may not have all the answers, you can spend some time looking up the answers with your kid and compile your own guide full of tips and tricks on all about dogs for kids!
- Always Play Under Supervision
The most important lesson when letting your kids and dogs play together is to never let them out of your sight. However, that’s more of a lesson for the parents than the kids.
Here’s what Mette Morgan suggests,
“When you teach them, supervise their first few visits. Children can be loud, erratic, and scary to any pet.”
In Conclusion
Introducing your kids to lessons on safe interactions with dogs is the gift of a lifetime. We hope our guide to all about dogs for kids helps you prepare your child for a happy life surrounded by happy dogs!
