DOG SAFETY TIPS Reprinted With Permission From BarkBusters, www.barkbusters.com. e’ve all seen them: those carefree dog food commercials that feature adorable, furry puppies jumping on the laps of children, licking their faces and, for the most part, being on their best behavior. Unable to resist the allure of this loveable scene played out on television, children ask their parents for a dog of their own. Many parents give in to the requests. After all, a puppy would make a great companion, maybe distracting the youngster from his video games for a while, and it just might teach the child some responsibility. But buying or adopting a dog is easy. The hard part is getting the dog to act like the ones in the commercials, and that task becomes even trickier when for Parents & Children there are kids involved! First and foremost, never buy a dog as a toy substitute. Dogs are living, breathing creatures with feelings. Children should be taught this fact from an early age and should be shown how to treat dogs with respect. By adopting a new dog for the right reasons and instilling the right mindset within the children involved, a parent takes the first step in avoiding undesired consequences, such as mistreatment and neglect. Whenever a parent makes the important decision to bring home a dog for the kids, they should also make the commitment to enroll the dog (and the rest of the family) in a formal training program. Learning how to communicate effectively with your dog in a language he understands, using voice tones and body language, is the first step toward establishing a lasting emotional relationship based on a balance of bond, respect and trust. Some tips to help ensure that your new furry friend has a smooth and safe transition to your household include: Never leave a child or baby alone with a dog. When visiting friends or relatives who have a dog, do not allow your child to play in the yard unsupervised. If that is not possible, ask the owners to put their dog away. Do not allow your child to feed a dog unsupervised, as some dogs can be very protective of food. Also, never allow your child to hand-feed your dog; this teaches the dog W that is acceptable to take any food from children. Do not allow your child to pull on the dog’s collar to lead him outside the house, as he could bite. Children without adult supervision should not be allowed to walk a dog, as the child could be dragged unwittingly into a fight with another dog. Dogs should be taught to respond to verbal commands. However, if the dog does not respond to a verbal command given by the child, correction should be given by the parent, not the child. In fact, under no circumstances should a child ever discipline a dog. That is the parents’ job. Dog Safety Tips continued on page 32 18 Piedmont Family Magazine 2013 • Issue 4