There is a general belief that dogs get along well with kids. There are many videos of dogs and kids goofing around on YouTube and social networking sites. However, not all dogs are the same. Some may require special training before interacting with a child. Here are some ways to train your dog to be kid-friendly.

Make Sure It Knows a Few Basic Commands

Dogs are inquisitive creatures. When introduced to a new person, a dog will try to get too close to sniff the person or get over-excited and jump on them.

Before introducing your dog to a child, make sure it understands a few basic commands such as sit, heel, down, and stay so that it knows its boundaries. The better a dog knows basic commands, the easier it will be to interact with people around it, including kids. As an added tip, have your children help with training your dog. This will not only give them an opportunity to bond but also help your dog notice your child is in control.

Use a Leash When Introducing Your Dog to a Child

When you introduce your dog to a new child and are unsure of how it will react, keep it on a leash until both the child and your canine become comfortable with each other.

Keeping your dog on a leash is an effective way of ensuring that you can control it if things do not turn out how you’d expected, and your furry friend becomes overexcited, skittish, or aggressive.

Keep the leash loose, so there is enough room for your pooch to move and play. At the same time, let it know that bad behavior will not be tolerated and will result in a short playtime.

Enroll Your Furry Friend in a Socialization Class

If your dog becomes aggressive or excited and unruly around kids, enroll it in a puppy socialization class.

Dog training is based on the science of animal behavior. A dog behavior specialist is trained to understand common dog behaviors and the meaning behind their moods. They use positive reinforcements and other techniques to make dogs understand what acceptable behavior is.

Supervise Your Dog’s and Kid’s Interactions

Young children (below five years) are unpredictable. A toddler can do something that irks your dog, and it may snap. If your dog is uncomfortable around strangers, it may perceive a child’s advances as a threat, and respond aggressively. To prevent this from happening, always be around when your furry friend is interacting with a child. Make sure they are comfortable in each other’s company.

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