A pet is a great addition to your family, but you must take precautions to help ensure your youngster interacts appropriately with their four-legged friend. Although pets’ behavior can be unpredictable, your child can learn how to live safely with their furry pal. Our Madison Street Animal Hospital team provides tips to help your children interact safely with pets.
#1: Choose the right pet for your family
When adopting a pet, ensure you choose the right animal for your family. Ask breeders or shelter workers about a pet’s personality and whether the animal has ever exhibited aggression. In addition, introduce your child to a potential pet, and observe their interaction. If the pet exhibits fear or aggression, you should choose another. In addition, consider the following:
- Large dogs — Although often extremely friendly, large dogs may not appreciate how big they are, especially if they are young. If you have a small child, a large, exuberant dog can easily knock down your youngster when trying to play and say hello.
- Tiny pets — Young children often don’t understand the need to be gentle when petting, playing with, or holding a tiny pet. A youngster may accidentally injure a fragile animal.
#2: Socialize your pet properly
A pet is most open to new experiences during the first three months of their life. To help your furry pal learn to interact appropriately with young children, you must socialize them during this period by introducing them to as many new people, pets, sights, sounds, smells, and situations as possible, which helps your pet grow into a well-adjusted and well-behaved adult. Properly socialized pets tend to have less fear and anxiety and are less prone to aggressive behavior. To socialize your four-legged friend, follow these tips:
- Make a checklist — Make a thorough checklist of people, things, and situations your pet may encounter such as traffic, different types of people wearing different clothing, other pets and animals, riding in a car, having their ears, mouth, and feet handled, and walking on various surfaces.
- Be patient — Young pets tire easily, so keep socialization exercises short, and avoid exposing your furry pal to too much too quickly. For instance, before introducing your pet to a large crowd, let them meet one new person and gradually increase the number of people they encounter at one time.
- Make the experience positive — Ensure every encounter is positive by offering your four-legged friend enthusiastic praise and high-value treats. If your pet exhibits fear or anxiety during an experience, remove them from the situation, and try again in a more gradual way at another time.
#3: Train your pet
Obedience training is a great way to teach your four-legged friend to listen to you and strengthen the pet-owner bond. Simple commands, such as sit, stay, leave it, and down, can help prevent a dangerous situation if your pet gets rambunctious while playing with your child.
#4: Teach your child to respect all pets
Most children love pets, but they don’t always play with them in a way that their furry pal appreciates. Teach your child they should never rush toward or grab a pet. Ensure they learn to always approach a pet calmly and extend their hand to see if the animal is interested in interacting. In addition, teach your youngster that they should never pinch a pet or pull their ears or tail.
#5: Teach your child to read a pet’s body language
Pets can’t talk, but they can communicate effectively using facial expressions and body language. Therefore, you must teach your youngster to recognize a pet’s cues. Ensure that your child knows to steer clear of a pet under these circumstances:
- Dogs — Dogs who are fearful or anxious can easily turn aggressive. Your youngster should avoid a dog if the animal is crouching, turning away, whining, holding their tail between their legs, barking, growling, showing their teeth, or raising the hair on their back.
- Cats — Cats are fickle creatures, and a loving, sweet cat can suddenly turn into a ferocious, scratching beast. Your youngster should avoid a cat if the animal is hissing, growling, holding their ears flat to their head, or hiding. Never let your child grab a cat out of their hiding place. In addition, ensure your youngster knows that a cat exposing their belly isn’t always asking for pets.
#6: Teach your child when to leave a pet alone
Ensure your child gives your pet space when their four-legged friend signals that they prefer to be left alone. Regardless of the signals your pet is sending, your youngster should never approach their furry pal in certain situations, including the following:
- Mealtimes — Some pets are extremely protective of their food, and they may lash out if they think your child is trying to steal their meal.
- Nap time — If your pet is sleeping soundly, your child may startle them, resulting in an injury.
#7: Ensure your child avoids approaching unfamiliar pets
If you have a well-behaved, sociable pet, your child may think all pets are friendly. Ensure your youngster knows that some pets can be grumpy, and teach them to avoid unfamiliar pets unless the owner says the interaction is OK.
#8: Keep your pet healthy
Your pet can transmit certain diseases and parasitic infections to your child. In addition, pets tend to be more irritable when they are sick and are more likely to be aggressive. Schedule regular wellness checks, keep your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date, and ensure they receive year-round parasite prevention.
#9: Always supervise your child when they are around pets
Even the most well-behaved pet can lash out if they feel threatened or get excited while playing. Never leave your child unattended when they are playing with a pet. If you can’t monitor your child and pet, crate your four-legged friend, or put up a baby gate to keep your youngster and their furry pal separated.
To schedule your pet’s wellness exam and ensure they are healthy and ready to play with your child, contact our Madison Street Animal Hospital team.
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