One of my readers let me know that she has noted that children and their parents are not considerate when they meet a dog on the road.
She walks her dog in her neighbourhood and has, for example, experienced kids on bikes whipping up behind them. Bikes are silent and the sudden experience of a child and bike coming upon an adult and dog will disconcert both of them. The dog may snap simply because he is startled. The adult may also react which will cause the dog to be uncomfortable. It's not a great way for the dog and the children to meet.
It's important to teach our children about meeting strange dogs because at some point every child will encounter one. To keep the animal, the child and the adult safe, here are some simple tips for greeting the animal.
From when children are very young teach them the concept of "gentle." If you do not have a dog or cat, you can still have them handle you gently or be gentle with their friends. I once watched an 18-month-old child who was fascinated with her nanny's necklace. The nanny simply said, "be gentle" and the child carefully touched the jewelry. The nanny thanked her for being gentle. Now the toddler understands the term and realizes being gentle will allow her to touch more new things that interest her.
So, now your child understands the term gentle and you can transfer that to petting a dog.
But first, and this is very important, ask permission of the owner. Never allow your child to just rush at the dog. Teach your child to approach slowly, hold his hand out palm down and let the dog have a sniff. Tell him to avoid eye contact with the dog and approach sideways instead of straight on. Let the dog decide how close he wants to come. If your child is with a group of kids, have only one child at a time approach the dog. If the dog is at all shy or nervous, being approached by a gaggle of excited eight-year-olds may cause problems.
Let the child know that the dog may or may not want to come closer. So stay relaxed and wait. Most dogs are curious and will want to meet the child.
Dog owners also need to take responsibility to keep kids safe. Know your dog and his limitations. Some dogs love kids and some need time to get to know the child. Keep control of your animal because you don't want to take chances with any children.
Be ready to teach a child (and possibility his parents) about the best way to approach your animal. Ask the child to be gentle and after he has carefully petted your dog thank him for being so considerate.
Some owners like to carry treats that a child can give the dog or drop on the ground so the dog associates this child in a positive way.
It's a good idea to a place a couple of your fingers under the dog's collar so you can control the distance between dog and child. You can also easily move the dog away if you sense a negative response from your pet.
If you think your dog is not up to meeting new kids, explain to the child that today is not a good day.
Not only should a child ask permission to meet a new dog, the owner should involve the parent by asking them it they mind their child approaching the dog or offering him a treat.
When the child, her parents and the dog owner are all taking responsibility for making this a safe and successful meeting, everybody wins.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author. To read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
