Having a family pet can have some pretty paw-some social and emotional benefits when it comes to your children; but watching them form a relationship can be one of the best things life has to offer. Children and pets can be a wonderful combination of fun, excitement and adventure but there are some measures that need to be taken by parents to make sure that connection is established safely and appropriately. We at Going Mutts Pet Services, LLC love to see children and pets getting along and becoming best pals, so we put together some do’s and don’ts to help foster that relationship in a safe and fun way!

Do actively supervise interactions: Young children should never be left alone with pets unsupervised. In this case, supervision is more than just being physically present while your child and pet interact with each other - it’s about being actively involved in their interactions to show appropriate play between each. One important part of your supervision includes monitoring body language to make sure everything remains stress free and enjoyable. Be prepared to intervene when necessary to divert any potential problems such as a dog who steals toys, a child who keeps taking toys away from the pet or your child being too rough while trying to pet. 

Do teach appropriate handling: Make sure you take the time to teach your child how to properly touch a pet. If you have a baby or a toddler, they are still learning to explore the world and their first instinct is to grab everything that looks interesting. Teach them how to nicely pet back and forth on their back or side and to never sneak up on a pet.

Do provide a safe space for all: Having a place that your pet and your child can go to without the other can help whenever a pet feels overwhelmed or your child just needs some time alone without a pet trying to take food or interrupt playtime. You can teach your pet to have a ‘home base’ to flee to if they feel overwhelmed or stressed - a crate, bed or perch would work great for ‘home base.’ Having a gated area or closing a door can help your child have some alone time to play, rest or just hang out without a pet interrupting. This way everyone can reset if need be and get ready to play together again!

Do know the signals of a stressed pet: Know the signals for when your pet may be overwhelmed or has had enough time with your child and needs some alone time. Watch out for tucked tails, flattened ears and lowered eyes as signs of stress or being overwhelmed. Rarely do dogs bite without warning, so get to know your dog's body language and cues for when they need some time to themselves. 

Do involve the kids in dog care: Having the kids involved in all aspects of a pets life is a great way to help them form a good relationship. Including the kids in everything, from choosing the pet to feeding and training, can help to form a positive relationship between them. It is important that the adult acts as the trainer and supervisor during these interactions to make sure the child is calm and responsible enough to carry out basic functions for the pet. You can always add pet care to your child’s chore chart and continue to teach them how to care for their pet in different ways as they get older. 

Do set some boundaries: Most dogs are very tolerant of children, but those tiny humans can overstep their boundaries with their pets from time to time. It is important to teach your children from a young age that dogs who are resting, eating, chewing on a bone or sleeping should be left alone. You can make a space for your pet to do these things with a way to keep your child from interrupting. It is also very important to teach your children to not sit or lie on their pets to avoid any problems with biting or scratching that can come from these actions. Just like people don’t like others in their personal space, so do your pets. 

Don’t ask a child to discipline a pet: Even the best behaved pets can act a little naughty sometimes, but it’s best to leave the disciplining to an adult instead of a child. If your child sees your cat lounging on a countertop that is off limits or watches a dog steal some snacks off the counter, have them tell you so you can handle the situation to avoid any scratching or biting that can happen to the child from the pet. Also, be aware of how you handle the situation as kids are always watching and love to emulate!

Don’t rush it: Sometimes things don’t happen right away, and that’s completely okay! Pets can be hesitant around children, especially if they are a rescue and have had bad experiences with children in the past. Teach your child to go slow around them, especially when approaching. On the opposite end, you may have a very large dog that intimidates your child. In this instance, have the dog sit and let your child go to it, still slowly so as not to frighten or possibly get the dog so excited it jumps up and at your child. Remember to not force anyone to interact unless they feel comfortable.

Now that we have set some ground rules for how to help your child and pet get to know each other, let’s look at some activities to help that bond grow! Keeping both pet and child involved in each other’s lives on a daily basis will help to teach consistency, companionship and valuable life lessons for all. 

Have them help with simple pet chores: Having them involved in daily pet chores helps to reduce your task load but also teaches responsibility to the kids while helping to grow that bond.. The key is to make sure the chores are age appropriate such as your toddler could help scoop food while your teenager can help with walks and playtime outside. 

Teach a new trick to your pet as a family: Aside from helping that child and pet bond, this is also a great way to teach your child patience and that hard work is rewarded in the end. Another bonus is that your pet is soaking up lots of attention AND becoming a better trained pet! 

Brushing can become a regular event: Brushing is an important part of any pet's routine and is an easy task to let your child help with or even take on as a pet chore. Brushing helps to keep your pets coat healthy, shiny and clean while also helping to keep dander from piling up in your house. This can help teach your child how to be gentle with your pet.

Hang out at the park, go for walks and have playtime: Regular exercise is a huge part of your pets wellbeing, as well as your kids, so why not combine the two and let them get exercise together to help them bond more! Explore the neighborhood and trails, have your child throw a ball or a frisbee for a game of fetch or head to a dog park to help get some energy out for Fido and your kiddo by running inside a fenced in area (if you don’t have one). Schedule a weekly playdate or nightly walk to make sure everyone is getting their exercise in.

Having a pet can bring another level of adventure and joy into the household, but watching your pet and child grow together is ultimate joy. Aside from helping with social skills and encouraging a healthy lifestyle for both the pet and the child, having a pet while growing up is just plain and simple fun. Fun for the pet, fun for the child and fun for the family to have new adventures! Helping to nurture and grow that bond between a child and pet may be one of the most magical experiences parents get to watch for years to come.

If you’re worried about your pet not being able to get as much exercise and attention as you would like, no worries! Going Mutts Pet Services, LLC would love to help to make sure your best furry friend gets the exercise and attention they need on a daily basis with daily dog walks. Contact us TODAY for a free Meet ‘n Greet to customize some playtime and walking into your pets daily schedule. 

Sources:

https://www.petplan.co.uk/pet-information/dog/advice/how-to-help-children-bond-with-pets/

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/dos-and-donts-to-help-kids-and-pets-bond

https://blog.healthypawspetinsurance.com/6-activities-to-help-foster-pet-and-child-bonding

https://www.petspyjamas.com/blog/10-reasons-why-pets-are-good-for-kids/