By Wendy Keefer, author of Hey Dog! Sniffs are for Feet! – a guide for parents of children and dogs, and Hey Dog! Let’s Talk! – a book aimed at 4-7-year-olds to help them grow to understand dogs and develop safe and trusting relationships.
Hey Dog!
Prepare your dog
Teach your dog the ‘What Was That?’ game as explained in ‘Hey Dog! Sniffs are for Feet!’ Startling sounds and unexpected movements can be scary for a dog, but this game helps him feel more positively about them. After all, they can also result in yummy treats!
Manage spaces
Confined spaces can be very stressful for a dog in a room with children. Use doors, baby gates and other barriers to keep them separate. When you do separate the dog, make sure they don’t see it as punishment. Provide nice things for the dog to chew or play with. If the dog and child are in the same room, make sure the dog always has an escape route to a place of safety.
Stand Still / Hands Down / Look Away / Wait
Children stay safe by standing away and respecting the dog’s personal space. Too close and they may feel trapped. Waving hands can be worrying or exciting to a dog. Staring into their eyes can be threatening or can be an invitation. Not every child wants to greet a dog. Waiting calmly in this position helps give the child information about the friendliness of the dog and lets the dog know they can be trusted. For the child that doesn’t want to greet the dog or is possibly afraid of dogs, standing still and looking away lets the dog know they aren’t interested. The dog will get bored and go away. It also provides time for a helpful adult to arrive.
‘Hey Dog! Sniffs are for Feet!’ helps parents learn how to teach this. ‘Hey Dog! Let’s Talk!’ provides your child with fun illustrations to help them learn.
Give the Dog the Choice
Help your child to grow up knowing your dog has feelings too! By giving the dog the choice when it comes to interacting, you know the dog wants to be there and feels confident about the child. The best relationships grow through trust. So, teach your child to always stand away and call the dog to them especially around food, the dog’s bed and any place the dog could feel trapped. If the dog says ‘no thanks’, just shrug and say, ‘maybe another time.’
One Hand Touch, Two Hands Too Much!
Dogs, unlike parents don’t always like to be hugged and can react. Teach your child to stroke with one hand.
Read more in the newly released ‘Hey Dog! Sniffs are for Feet!’ and for your children, ‘Hey Dog! Let’s Talk!’ Available from Amazon, The Book Guild and all good bookshops.