| The first caution for parents is to NEVER leave very young
children (pre-school age - under six) left unattended with a dog. If you
trust your dog then you likely do not believe that the dog will suddenly
choose to attack. However, the dog is not much different than a small
child itself. If a dog is unintentionally harmed or feels threatened it
may bite in self-defense, just as small children may push or scratch
another child when they feel threatened. Do not subject your dog or
child to possible harm by leaving them alone to play. Your dog is not an
adult. Always supervise dogs and children and you will be preventing a
problem from occurring.
Discourage your children from hugging and kissing their dog as most
bites to the face happen this way.
Regardless of the age of your children you should discourage
roughhousing with the dog. Some of the larger breeds can generally
handle rougher play, such as Newfoundlands and Boxers, without becoming
agitated. Other large breeds may become irritated by ear pulling,
grabbing and other play and accidentally harm your child. Large breeds
may even knock over a small child unintentionally.
On the other hand, smaller breeds sometimes hurt children because
they feel threatened by overly affectionate mauling or fear being
stepped on. In these cases they may bite or scratch in an effort to
protect themselves from harm. It is recommended that roughhousing should
be discouraged with all breeds.
You should seriously consider fully training any dog you choose as a
family pet. While some trainers may feel that the owner is adequately
qualified to take on this task, you may wish to consider having your dog
professionally trained if possible.
Incorrect training can actually lead to behavior problems. Owning a
fully-trained dog will give you the peace of mind you are looking for
when selecting a pet for your children.
These are just some of the points to consider when bringing a dog
home for your children. By taking the time to understand and learn about
dogs before bringing one home, you are more likely to find the life-long
friend your children deserve!
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