Increasing child/dog safety

I remember having a woman announce to me that she had to get "One of those little Lassie dogs like you have!" for her kids. Why? Well, her reasoning was that my Shetland Sheepdog was so good with my (at the time) infant son and Lassie was so good with Timmy that this must be the best dog for kids! Just like a little Lassie. Long story short: she got a fast education in what it took to get Timmy and Lassie.

First: Lassie is a HE! Always had been. Why? Better coats basically.  Now, Lassie is not responding to Timmy or family members. Lassie is responding to a handler off set and out of our vision.  The dogs portraying Lassie have had countless hours of fun training, extremely good socializing and constant refreshers.  Timmy is an actor interpreting a script and cues. Timmy and Lassie (or any of the kids in the various Lassie shows and movies throughout the decades) are NOT real life.

Reality can be better summed up in a poem I wrote in response to this woman. This poem eventually published in the Sheltie Pacesetter in 2001, just before my son turned three:

"The Boy" A Sheltie's Poem

By Ryker

Proud Scottish blood runs through my veins,

From weathered isles with driving rains,

Cross moor and hill, rock and glen

After wily sheep aiding kilted men.

Their heritage I show with pride,

Competing proud, Lady by my side.

Obedience, Agility and Conformation,

Tried herding once, forgot to mention.

Can handle it all for I'm no toy.

Then Lord and Lady, they had THE BOY!

The bundled tyke was small and sweet,

I thought as I gently kissed his feet.

Wants made known through cry and wail.

The little dear would tug my tail.

But tiny wails they turned to bawls.

Oh look, he sits – oh no, he crawls.

Oh dear Lady what has he done?

"Just wait," she said, "He'll soon be one."

From appointed duty I shall not balk,

He pulled up on my fur – and now can walk.

Across the yard he'd stumble and bump,

Through Agility stuff – hey! That's MY jump!

Scoots down the steps and into the hall.

To float toy boats in the water bowl.

Through spinach and peas this job I'll do.

"Just wait," said Lady, "For he'll be two."

Canine and feline friends from him they hid.

My ancestors handled sheep – this is just one kid!

So he toddles and waddles

He feeds me bottles

He chortles and laughs – he's really quite cute

With my charge I'll be no brute.

What is two? - Seemed so far away,

But I blinked my eyes and came that day.

After the time with the grooming box,

Lady now keeps it under locks.

My sable coat – a stunning hue!

He has finger paints – now I'm a blue.

And that lovely bowl from which I nibble.

Hey that kid, he's in my kibble!

M'Lord and Lady must that monster we keep?

What's that I hear, he's finally asleep?

Oh look, see there, in his comfy bed,

So tiny and innocent as he rests his head.

I forgot the time he made me cry,

When that flashlight he shone in my sleeping eye.

In this room so quiet and hush,

Slipped my mind when my teeth he did brush.

I lean my head on M'Lady's knee.

"Just wait," she whispers, "He'll soon be three."

(originally published by the Sheltie Pacesetter, Sept/Oct 2001)

Kids are kids and though I am a professional dog trainer, I had to ensure that all my pets had a high tolerance level to grabbing hands and such. I had to ensure they would tolerate food and toys being taken and given to them.  I had to ensure they would not lunge and grab at food.  I had to ensure I taught them BEFORE my son was born to handle anything a child could dish out. With my son, I had to take every opportunity from the moment he was born to teach him how to behave around dogs. Luckily, I am an at-home mother!   If I worked 8 - 10 hours a day and had very few hours with my son and dogs, this task would be next to impossible.  As is, there are times when even my sanity gets pushed to the limit!  It takes about as much time to properly raise a dog as it does a child. If you have a young child and want a dog to be his buddy, bear this in mind.  Also bear in mind NO puppy is born trained and adding a pup is like adding another child. If you balk at the task, wait until the child is older and at least in kindergarten and learning that actions have reactions. And use the growing time to properly teach the child about dog safety!

If you have the dog first, you need to begin from DAY ONE preparing the dog for the new baby.  Even if having kids is years away, anything your dog could encounter in daily life he must be socialized and desensitized to.  This means: kids, social situations, sounds, body handling, food and toys being taken, learning basic manners, practicing them AND integrating them into daily life.  More on socializing will be covered in the Dog Owner's section. Failing to properly train, socialize and "proof" your dog from the first day he enters the home is asking for future trouble!

Now, what about the kids?  What should kids need to know?

Well, my Safe Kids/Safe Dogs Project handout sums it up:

• Never run up to a dog, even one you know.

• Never scream or run around a dog, even your own.

• Approach dogs from the side or front - do not sneak up on a dog from behind or while the dog is sleeping or eating.

• Never approach a dog without adult supervision - even if the dog belongs to a friend or neighbor.

• Always let the dog sniff you first and do not stare him in the eye, some dogs may be threatened by this.  Pat under the chin or on the back, some dogs may get nervous if you touch the top of the head.

• If approached by a dog, stand still. If you are on a bike, stop, put the bike down and stand still. Never run or ride away! 

• Never approach a dog that is acting afraid or one that is growling or showing teeth or who has puppies - even if the owner is there.

• Never hang over fences or put your hands through fence openings to touch a dog, even one you know.

• Avoid rough games such as tug-of-war, jumping up for toys/food, wrestling and chase the kid, all could encourage a bite.

• Never tease or hit a dog or pull ears, tail or feet and let sleeping/eating dogs alone!

• Always inform an adult if you see a loose dog. Never try and catch it yourself - even if you know the dog.

• Never run away from a dog - it can encourage a chase. 

• If a dog threatens you, avoid eye contact, hold a rolled up jacket or book bag in front of you and back away slowly.  Do not scream or run. The dog could chase you.

• If a dog attacks, roll up like a ball and put your hands behind your neck.

• Make sure your friends behave around your dog. If your friends cannot, they may not play with your dog.

Even if you do not own a dog, your children must learn to behave around them. You may have friends, relatives or neighbors with dogs.  Who knows when you will be around a dog? Knowing how to behave is important when helping prevent dog bites.

Now, what about playing with the dog.  From all that has been said, it sounds like child/dog interaction can be bad!  Well, no, not if there are rules set down and they are adhered to!  Again, here is some information from the Safe Kids/Safe Dogs project:

Screaming, laughing children racing about with a dog chasing them. Someone grabs a stick and starts playing tug-of-war with the dog.  The dog grabs a sleeve and starts to yank.  Another child holds up a ball and encourages the dog to jump for it.  Another child snatches the ball and runs off.  The dog gives chase, the children scream even more. Then the children "pig-pile" and start to wrestle with the dog. 

How often so we see situations like this?  Are we aware that all these games can lead to a child being bitten and undesired behaviors in our dog? Playing in the manner these children are encourages jumping, chasing and even biting.  The sounds and speed of the children can excite a dog to the point where he forgets not to use his mouth.  Play like this can also make a dog feel threatened.  Part of having safer children and dogs is playing safer games and knowing the rules of all games.

The Rules of the Game

Human starts the game and human stops the game: Initiating an activity can be a sign of wanting to be in control.  In the family pack, humans are higher up in the pack order than the dog.  What do you do if Rover asks you to play? Have him work for the privilege to play. Before that toy Rover happily dropped in you lap gets tossed, Rover must sit and/or lie down. His reward is that toy gets tossed.  Every now and then, stop play, have Rover do something else and then the game can begin again. The game ends before Rover gets too riled up. Just something as simple as what was just outlined puts human in control and reinforces that control of the game.  If a child is playing with a dog, a responsible adult must supervise!

Games to Avoid

Tug-of-War, Chasing, Wrestling, Jumping for toys/food (also known as teasing): These games are based on rough play and can lead to undesired behaviors in a pet if not played with strict rules. A tiny puppy tugging on socks or fingers may seem cute, but the puppy is learning that biting is acceptable behavior and it may be difficult to stop the behavior when the puppy is older. Teasing should never be done!

Games to Play

Hide and Seek: One person takes a toy and hides.  Another holds the dog.  The hider calls the dog while the holder encourages the dog to go and find.  Once the dog finds the hiding person, the toy gets tossed for the dog.  This game also encourages the dog to want to come to family members when called.

Find the Treat: Take several solid colored plastic cups (cannot see through them) and hide a treat under one.  Have the dog find the treat.  The more cups over the more area, the more challenging the game.

Over and Under and Through: Set up low bars, high bars and tunnels using PVC pipe or dowels, books, chairs and large boxes with both ends open. Have the dog follow a child over the low bars (keep them very low - only a few inches), under the high bar (make sure it is high enough than the dog does not try to jump) and through the tunnels. Have some hula-hoops set up and go through them as well.

Fetch: Great standby game.  But do not allow it to turn into a tug-of-war for the toy!

Silly Pet Tricks: Tricks can not only be fun to teach and learn but also can have practical applications.  Lifting up feet, rolling over on the back, etc., can be great when grooming.  And kids can have fun teaching the pet new things while playing safely!

 

WORD TO THE WISE:  If you have any concerns about how your dog is reacting to your child or you notice sudden behavioral changes, you need to get professional help.  Sudden behavior changes can be indicative of an underlying health issue (provided there was no underlying child issue that helped instigate a bite). if there is no medical issue, then you need to seek a good trainer or behaviorist for help BEFORE things get out of hand!

Click here to learn a bit about preparing your dog for baby.

Click here to learn about finding an obedience instructor.