Many parents envision their children growing up with a dog as their best friend. However, the number of abandonment cases due to conflict between children and dogs is increasing every year. Why can't children and dogs get along in many families?
“Every time my kid gets attacked when he tries to play with my dog so he is now scared of dogs." Many parents do not understand why dogs have such emotions.
Dogs do not hate kids. They hate...
1. Sudden attack (Being slapped or caught by the tail / taken away toys or food)
Just like human with sensitive nerves, dogs with high sensitivity will be shocked when they are suddenly slapped or caught by the tail. Moreover, it is a dog's natural instinct to protect their food and toys. Even if a child wants to play with the dog with good intentions, it may be seen as an invasion by some dogs.
2. Sound stimulation (Screaming / laughing / knocking, etc.)
Children don't have the ability to control their emotions and are always curious, so it's inevitable that they make noises. However, dogs have better hearing than humans, so they are very sensitive with children's noises, which can easily stimulate their emotions.
3. Parental bias (Blaming the dog when there is a conflict)
“My dog's age now equals to a 20-year-old human, why can't they understand a 2-year-old child?" Many parents have the wrong impression that their dogs will become more mature when they grow up. However, the fact is that no matter how old a dog is, they still have an IQ of a 2 or 3-year-old. If pet owners use human standards to get along with their dogs, and only blame the dog when there is a conflict with a child, the dog is very likely to dislike sharing space with the child.
If you want your child and dog to see each other as family members, you can....
1. Teach them to respect each other's personal space (No interrupting / raiding the dog)
If you want your dog to be more integrated into a family with children, you can treat your dog as a very introverted friend, give them space, and teach your children not to disturb your dog when they are playing or eating. If the children are not yet capable of understanding that dogs need respect, parents should manage the environment well and not leave the children alone with the dog to prevent conflicts.
2. Interact with your dog in a calm manner (Avoid loud noises/actions)
Many pet owners think that allowing their dogs to enjoy excitement as much as they can is a sign of love, but in fact, letting dogs learn to calm down and relax will help them maintain good mental health. If you want your dog to calmly face all kinds of stimuli, you should communicate and interact with your dog in a calm tone of voice and body language, and educate your children to lower their voice level and not to greet your dog aggressively.
3. More pet-friendly activities (Brain activities instead of stimulation activities)
“If I want my dog to stay calm, can I still play with them?" Of course! If not, what is the point of having a dog! However, exciting activities (such as tugging toys, chasing and running) can be too dangerous for children. To promote bonding, parents can try brain activities instead, which can also train both children and dogs intellectually. PET-A-HOOD collects cute toy DEALS for pet owners, go shopping now!
Pawkie Talkie is a new and interesting intellectual activity for pet owners and children to train their dogs to communicate with each other through buttons!
Owners can upgrade their Pawkie Talkie to a bigger toy with more buttons, depending on how fast their dog learns.
PET-A-HOOD members who attend their first My Dog Fits training are entitled to a $500 cash coupon for in-home training, which can be used for dog behavioral counseling, personal training, or basic training.
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MY DOG FITS offers a variety of training services, including puppy training, basic training, and behavior modification. Their trainers possess a unique insight into the behavior and psychology of dogs and can provide effective training methods for each individual dog |
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