But there is a reason behind this strange behavior on the part of parents. It is called ignorance. As a matter of fact, very few families ever go through this terrible situation of having their child bitten or attacked by the dog. In fact, most dogs love kids just as much as kids love them.
But you need to ensure that you create the ideal surroundings for your kids and dogs and take some basic precautions, Most parents never imagine or are prepared for anything horrible happening, either to your kids or to your dog!
Experts in the field differ in their opinion on various topics. However when it comes to kids and dogs together, there are certain points that most of them agree upon. For those who have kids as well as pets to take care of, you should know what these points are.
Firstly, if your children are very young, say under 6 years of age, you should never leave them alone with your dog. Your dog is not a wild ferocious beast, however it is very playful and is like a child itself. It will definitely not make a planned attack on your child, but he may simply respond in a never-before-seen way if it is hurt or harmed by your child during their play. It's just that you should not consider your dog to be more mature than your little prankster.
Also discourage your kids from handling your dogs roughly. Larger dogs like Newfoundlanders can sustain it without being irritated but other, smaller breeds may suddenly become frantic and may harm your child. They may also knock over your kids unintentionally. As for smaller breeds, they may simply bite your child to protect itself if it feels endangered. Therefore, you should strictly discourage your child from rough handling.
Thirdly, avoid bringing home a dog which is not trained enough, especially when you have kids. The seller may well try to sell you an untrained dog, assuming that you can train it later, however it is best to bring home an already trained dog.
Getting a trained dog is important because improper training can turn your dog into a dangerous animal and further worsen the situation. Aggression can happen with even the most caring owners, so having a fully-trained dog can give you peace of mind and can also ensure the safety of your kids.
If you plan to train the dog yourself, be certain the your children and dog are never left together unsupervised until you are absolutely certain that it is safe.
This is indeed one very important point that you should consider while bringing home a dog or any pet to that matter. Nevertheless, if you take some time to plan things out and create the proper environment to your dog, you will be giving your child a loving, faithful, and life-long friend.
Most dogs are peaceful and friendly, unless they are raised to be otherwise. However, despite their natural affability, they will occasionally bite children. Many canine behavioral experts estimate that at least 30% of children have been bitten - or nearly so - by the time they reach their teenage years. Not only can this result in physical harm for the child, but it can establish and reinforce a child's fear of dogs.
While many owners will punish their dog for biting a child, they often do so without understanding what prompted the response. In this article, we'll provide an overview of why dogs bite. Plus, we'll describe how to identify the signs that your dog is agitated around kids and ultimately, how to prevent him from biting them in the future.
Why Your Dog Bites
There are many reasons why your dog may become agitated. And children seem to be habitually oblivious to most of them. First, dogs are naturally territorial, even as domestic pets. For example, a child may not understand a dog's instinct to protect its food. If he grabs the food away from the dog, there is a risk of being bitten. Second, loud, disruptive noises cause dogs to become anxious. Children, by nature, can be loud, making a dog nervous around them.
Third, kids often do not realize that dogs have a natural aversion to being handled in certain ways. For example, many children will grab a dog's paws. This can quickly frustrate a dog, leading him to bite or snap at the child (often, more as a warning than a sign of aggression).
Identifying The Warning Signs
Dogs are not mysterious. If they're agitated or angry, it's usually easy to tell. They will raise their tail and bare their teeth. Under extreme agitation, a dog will raise the hair on his back. On the other hand, if your dog is frightened, you'll notice his ears are plastered back and his tail loops under his hind legs. But, it is important to remember that he is just as likely to bite when he is scared as when he's angry. Your child should be taught to identify the signs.
Curbing The Biting Behavior
Curbing a dog's tendency to bite a child when he's agitated or frightened shouldn't be focused on eliminating the behavior. After all, it is an instinctive response. Instead, children should be educated regarding what actions are inappropriate in a dog's company. They should not handle a dog while he's eating. Nor should they surprise him when he's sleeping. Also, kids should be taught to recognize the signs that a dog is anxious or frightened. When he is, they should back off.
Assuming your dog is naturally friendly and sociable, keeping the peace between he and your children is a matter of educating them. In time, they'll realize what sort of behavior is unacceptable, and thereby avoid being bitten.
Both Steve Searls & Lawrence J. Reaves are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Steve Searls has sinced written about articles on various topics from Anger Control, Dog Care and Pets. The right for you depends on the results you expect. We have reviewed some of the best s. Steve Searls's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Lawrence J. Reaves has sinced written about articles on various topics from Anger Control, Home Management and Death. Looking for Healthy or check out. Lawrence J. Reaves's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.