subject: Teaching Your Kids Dog Etiquette [print this page] Teaching Your Kids Dog Etiquette Teaching Your Kids Dog Etiquette
There are many safety factors that we teach our kids through their years of growing up. One of these is not to go up to strange dogs. This may have been enough of a safety warning years back, before dogs where being so mistreated and interbred. Now because of these practices, a parent needs to extend their safety teaching, when it comes to dogs or any animal whether domesticated or not.
Strange dogs to kids often means scraggly stray dogs that they see rummaging through the garbage. They often don't include a cuddly looking cocker spaniel on a leash, being walked by its owner. Without thinking, the youngster will run up to the dog simply to pet it. The dog is taken off guard and snaps at the child, and possibly bites him. The dog is not nasty by nature, but here is a stranger charging at them, and the dog is unable to get away because its on a leash. In this circumstance, the parents without thinking of what has just happened here, will criticize the dog owner for not having a muzzle on the dog.
This is really unfair and a most avoidable situation. Children need to be taught the proper approach. First from a distance they should ask the owner, if they would allow them to pat the dog. This way the owner who knows the dog's temperament, will either say yes or no. It gives the dog owner a chance to prepare the dog, by having the dog sit, and gives the dog time to see the youngsters coming towards him.
Another lesson in dog etiquette should take place within the home with the family dog. Often we allow our children to become rough with the dog and are quite content that the dog is so forgiving. Then all of a sudden one time, the dog turns. Again, this is not fair to either the child or the animal. Children don't mean to be rough, but toddlers especially, aren't able to perceive what may be hurtful to the dog. The animal could be suffering from a ear infection, and the youngster happens to pull the dog's ear. Of course the dog is going to turn.
The proper safety training, and kids with pet etiquette, is to teach the child how to have fun playing with the dog in a safe manner. Throwing a ball or stick, or racing around the yard is great and safe both for them and their beloved pet.
