Children and dogs

Bringing up a child with a dog can be a dream come true. It's both cosy and fun to see your child develop a strong bond with your dog, especially if it's a puppy. If your child is involved in the dog's life from the start, their bond can be extra special.

However, there are also risks when a puppy grows up with a child, as they can accidentally hurt each other. To ensure it's a happy and cosy experience for everyone, plenty of adult supervision is needed. If you're considering a puppy to grow up with your baby, this article could be very helpful!

Creating a safe upbringing

The most important thing when you want your puppy to grow up with your child is that you, as the responsible adult, ensure they both learn how to treat each other. This means your child needs to understand how dogs work, while you need to help your puppy get used to children in the right way.

Your child needs to learn about dogs

A common reason for conflict between a puppy and a child is that the child doesn't understand how dogs behave. Your child needs to know that a puppy can become scared if hurt, which can lead to aggression and unsafe behaviour. This applies both at home and when out and about.

Of course, your child should be allowed to interact with the puppy, but you must supervise closely and teach your child how to behave around them. It's your responsibility to show them how to pet, cuddle, and play kindly and lovingly. Your child needs to learn respect and care for the relationship to be safe for both. It's also important to teach your child never to approach unfamiliar dogs without permission. As they get used to spending time with your dog, they might want to pet other dogs too – this can be dangerous.

What's causing the problem?

Sadly, misunderstandings can lead to a puppy biting a child. While it might seem unlikely to happen to your own pet, it’s important to be aware that it does happen for various reasons.

If this happens, it’s natural to blame the dog. However, it’s often not the dog’s fault but the child’s behaviour that leads to the misunderstanding. If a child handles a dog carelessly or gives unintentionally threatening signals, the dog may react aggressively and bite. To reduce these risks, you need to teach your child about appropriate behaviour around dogs and address the situation based on its cause. Always supervise!

A good relationship is key

For your puppy and child to play together safely and happily, you as the adult must nurture their relationship. You’re responsible for teaching both your child and puppy, and for how you handle different situations. It’s often said that certain breeds are 'good with children', but this isn't always true. A dog's behaviour around children depends entirely on their experiences with them; positive experiences make a big difference. So, to ensure they socialise well, focus on positive interactions.

To build an even better relationship between your child and puppy, do various activities together. This could be reading homework on the sofa, practising tricks, playing hide-and-seek, or attending a training class. This is especially rewarding if your child is a little older and keen to take responsibility for their learning.

Children and dogs: things to consider!