How to Teach Children to Play Nicely with the Dog

Many children grow up with a household pet, such as a cat or a dog, and end up becoming pet owners themselves. But dog ownership means more than walking Rover and feeding him each day. Parents need to teach their children how to play nicely with the dog, not just for the dog's sake, but also for the children's.

Discourage Rough Play

Puppies in particular love to engage in rough play and will assume that their owners or the children are having as much fun as they are during their interaction. But rough play can end badly, especially if young children end up being bitten after they have yanked the dog's ears, stepped on the dog's tail or the dog's playful bites draw blood.

Rather than deal with your children's tears and having to tell off the dog at the end of it, teach your children early on that rough play is unacceptable and enforce suitable punishments if you notice that things are starting to get out of hand. Proper supervision of young children around the dog can help you avoid this problem.

Explain that Rover Has Feelings Too

Young children are sponges and will pick up a remarkable amount of information as they grow and develop. It is never too early to teach them that Rover has feelings too and by being nasty to the dog, you will hurt his feelings. Let them know that when the dog yelps or moans, that he is crying and hurting, and that it is wrong to treat him that way while playing.

The Dog is Not a Toy!

Children can play for hours on end with their dolls or action figures and do what they like to them without any response or repercussions. But they need to have clear boundaries when it comes to playtime with the dog and know that the dog is not a toy that can be tossed around, pulled, teased or yelled at.

Teach your children to play nicely with the dog, the same as they would with their brother or cousin. That includes learning to share toys with the dog, rather than grabbing them out of his paws and hoarding them.

Although many dogs are tolerant of young children and will put up with their childish antics to a certain degree, even the most tolerant of dogs has a breaking point and it could come when you, or your children, least expect it. That is why it is so important for parents to start to train their children early on to play nicely with the dog. Not only will it keep your children safe, but the dog will also be protected from harm.

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