However, this isn’t always the case. All children need to learn how to treat dogs respectfully and this will help reduce the incidence of dog attacks on children.

Just like children dogs don’t like to be disturbed when they are asleep. If a child takes a dog by surprise, then the dog may bite in fright. Teach your child not to approach a sleeping dog.

If your child wants to pat a strange dog, they must always ask the owner or handler. Some dogs just don’t like strangers and again will bite if approached.

Many youngsters are afraid of dogs and for these children dogs rushing at them is the stuff nightmares are made of. If a dog does rush at your child, teach them to stand very still and not look at the dog in the eyes. If the dog knockes them over, they need to roll into a little ball and be very still.

Teach children dogs really don’t like their tail being pulled, their fur being tugged or being ridden like a horse. If they want to pat a dog, stroke gently under the neck rather than pat the top of the head or back.

If you can demonstrate to your children dogs need to be treated with care, then this will also encourage your child to be kind to them

Dogs and children can learn to live together in harmony with a little bit of training on both parts.

photo credit: wsilver

Children and puppies seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly–but how do you know if your child is ready for a puppy?

Today’s news story involving the four year old little boy who accidentally flushed his one week old puppy down the toilet made me wonder–when is a child old enough for a puppy?

Click here for the news story and video.

Naturally, our first concern should be for the safety of our children before bringing a new puppy into the home. A rambunctious playful puppy can accidentally knock a toddler off his feet or scratch or “nibble” him with no ill intent.

But we must also take into account the puppy’s safety when deciding whether or not it’s time to bring your child’s new “best friend” home.

The four year old little boy in this news story certainly didn’t mean to hurt his puppy–he was just trying to give him a bath.  Nevertheless, this little puppy was VERY lucky to survive the ordeal, thanks to a compassionate and skilled plumber!

When asking yourself, “Is my child ready for a puppy?”–here are a few things to consider:

1. What is your child’s temperament?  Does he have a gentle or rambunctious and lively personality at his present age?
2. What is the maturity level of your child? 
3. Is your child able to learn to distinguish between a living, breathing animal and his stuffed toys in terms of how to handle each?
4. Are you available to constantly supervise your child and puppy’s interactions and play times–at least until you feel certain your child has learned how to appropriately handle and play with the puppy?

As they say, “Timing is everything!”   And these are just a few things to consider when deciding the best time to bring your child’s new “furry friend” home.

Sleeping on furniture is one of the things that can lead to an over protective or “bossy” dog. Dogs think and operate in terms of territory. The more territory you give them the more they feel they own and need to protect. This sense of ownership can lead to aggressive behavior and disobedience.

When it comes to a child’s bed, this is particularly worrisome. Another reason why you may want to reconsider a child-dog sleeping arrangement is for sanitary reasons. Dogs are not the cleanest of animals, they shed and drool and can even discrete spray from over active anal glands. Sleeping with a dog that may have any of these characteristics can lead to your child developing dog allergies and is a worry as far as dog germs are concerned. If your child does tend to sleep better while in close proximity to your dog then maybe all you need to do is provide your dog with his own bed or crate and place it in or right outside your child’s room. This will give your dog the sense of territory that comes naturally as well as supplying your child with the needed sense of security and safety.

The easiest way to prevent any difficulties when it comes to sleeping arrangements for kids and dogs is to never allow it start in the first place. While your dog is a puppy, train them to know which places in your home are theirs, which are communal properties and which are for human family members only. That way, there’ll never be a question as to “who’s boss”.

Shiva, being a trained therapy dog, relates well to the children and she is part of a program to help them learn to read. She spends an hour twice a week in the library, sitting at the feet of children as they read aloud.

Thanks to the well mannered dog children are comfortable to read aloud without fear of making mistakes or stumbling over their words. Shiva never criticises, never looks bored and never teases for reading mistakes.

When it comes to choosing what books to read to the dog children seem to gravitate towards dog books, funnily enough.  They either bring their own book, or choose one from the library. When they visit and read a book to Shiva, they receive a bone shaped bookmark.

More and more libraries are realising the benefit of having a canine audience.

At the West Palm Beach Public Library in Florida, Taylor the labrador is another willing dog children can sit and read aloud to.

Salt Lake City, Utah, libraries have had a variety of breeds of dog children can interact with, from Yorkies to Mastiffs. Last year more than 500 children participated in the program.

A similar program in Chicago found that reading aloud to a dog resulted in significant improvement in reading skills.

If you have a child at home who struggles with reading, why not  suggest they read to their dog? He’ll show appreciation with a tail wag, never criticise or correct and will love  the attention.

Pug
Sturdy and spunky, the pug dog is a lot like most kids. Pugs love people and will most likely follow your children around whenever possible. Playful by nature, they seem to enjoy entertaining their owners with silly antics. They’re also sensitive and intelligent enough to take to training without much trouble. The only drawbacks are that they’re prone to certain health problems and their wrinkles require special care.

Cocker Spaniel
The poster child for perky, the energetic Cocker Spaniel charms kids and adults alike. Of all dog breeds, small Cocker Spaniels often top the list of family-friendly dogs. They’re naturally gentle in play, but if they do get a little rough, their soft, furry paws aren’t likely to do any damage. This sensitive dog requires gentle training or it can become nervous and yappy.

Miniature Schnauzer
With its compact size, solid build, and friendly demeanor, the Schnauzer makes a great companion for small children. Although they’re as rambunctious as terriers, they’re less aggressive, which makes them a better choice around kids. Schnauzers aren’t yappy, but they are natural guard dogs and will sound the alarm when any stranger approaches the house. On the downside, they’re likely to attack small household pets and cats.

Pocket Beagle
This small variety of beagle is sturdy and hardy, yet gentle and affectionate. Pocket Beagles love to play and their calm nature means running and shouting kids don’t bother them much. Their attractive tri-color coat is easy to care for, although it does shed quite a bit. This breed’s less attractive traits include a typical “houndy” smell, a loud baying bark, and a stubborn attitude towards training.

These are just a few of the dog breeds small and gentle enough to make good companions for children. As you search for the right dog for your family, remember looks aren’t everything. Always read up on the breed’s temperament and make sure you’re aware of the grooming requirements and any potential health problems.

1. Wash Up- Teach your children that it is important to wash their hands after playing with the dog. Especially if your children are using one of the dog’s toys. Those chewed up tennis balls and rubber bones can carry more then their far share of bacteria.
2. Poop Patrol- Cleaning up after your dog regularly is a good idea for obvious reasons, avoiding your dogs mess from coming into your home on the bottom of shoes is important when trying to cut down on dog germs.
3. Brush- Have your children learn to brush the dog’s teeth regularly. A dog’s oral hygiene is important in their health and overall quality of life, and will help to keep that slobbering mouth clean.
4. Bath Time- Some of the most worrisome forms of bacteria are found in a dog’s fur. Bathing your dog every couple of months is vital in your fight against pet dander and dog germs.
5. Dog Area- Designate a corner of your house to your dog and his belongings. Teach your children that this area is not for playing, this will avoid any dog toys, blankets or treats from ending up in the hands and mouths of children.
6. No Kissing- If possible it is a good idea to train your dog not to lick faces, however some dogs are just born to give kisses. Make sure your children know to not allow excessive licking and to wash-up afterwards.
7. Brush Again- Brushing a dog’s fur during certain times of the year will cut down on shedding, and as a result will decrease the amount of loose fur in your home and in the air.
8. Dirty Laundry- Make sure to wash your dog’s bedding. As with our own blankets and sheets, a dog’s bed can become soiled quickly and should be cleaned on a regular basis.
9. Food Bowls- A dog’s water and food bowls can be kept in a cupboard when not in use. This can help prevent children, especially crawling infants, from making a game out of mixing water and kibbles. Stainless steel food bowls are
10. Clean your Plate- Children will always think it is a great trick to let the dog lick their dinner plate clean. Sometimes, for this reason, it is easier to train your dog to stay in the living room during meal time.

While the “old wives tale” that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than ours may not be true, there is no reason to be overly concerned about dog germs and the effect they may have on your children. Taking normal sanitary precautions as noted above will keep your children—and your dog—happy and healthy!

What causes a fear of dogs?
As with most phobias, the fear of dogs is usually learned. It most often starts in childhood and may come from being bitten or knocked over by a dog, seeing a parent act fearful around dogs, or simply seeing dogs portrayed as vicious in movies. It only takes one unfortunate incident to “set” the fear in a child’s mind. Don’t underestimate the power of this fear. Phobias are by definition strong, but irrational. Often the sufferer knows they have nothing to fear, but feels panicky anyway.

Helping your child overcome the fear of dogs
Since it’s nearly impossible to avoid dogs, it’s well worth helping your child overcome their fear. The most often recommended method is a highly controlled and gradual exposure to dogs. If your child is simply too afraid of dogs to be in the same room with one, you might start by watching a movie that features friendly dogs.

Once the child no longer fears the sound or sight of dogs, take them to see some puppies between four and six weeks (the age before pups get jumpy and yappy.) Let the child see and, if she’s willing, hold one puppy. Do this out of site of the mother, which may bark or growl possessively. If that goes well, the child may be ready to be near and even interact with an adult dog of a small, calm breed like a cocker spaniel or pug.

A fear of dogs can be triggered by a variety of causes, not all of which are obvious. One child may recover from a serious dog bite and still love dogs, while another may develop a strong fear just by having a small dog unexpectedly jump on them. Although this powerful fear can be frustratingly persistent, it is possible to overcome through very careful, gradual introduction to dogs.

A lot of parents will counteract their child’s wanting a family dog by purchasing a much smaller animal, such as a hamster. Then after a few months, take a sigh of relief that a dog wasn’t brought into the family because the rodent’s cage is dirty and the child has lost all interest.

Any dog owner will tell you, there is no comparison between a dog and a caged hamster. The reason for this is, your child’s interaction with the hamster is limited and as a result, so is their sense of attachment or responsibility. In addition to this, a hamster can not be taught, or trained. When your child moves past the first few days of simply watching the hamster, and has grown tired of wheels, balls and other hamster paraphernalia, they will discover that the animal really isn’t all that interesting.

A family dog on the other hand is an active part of a child’s day, they are there beside them when watching T.V, and the dog will follow as your child goes outside to play. Your child will want to be able to walk the dog on a leash; they will want to be able to play fetch and want to have the dog come when it is called. All these things are part of training a dog and your child will participate because they know, in the end it will all pay off in the form of a fun and active playmate. Training a dog is a lengthy process, but it is one with great reward and your child will take pride in all the small achievements that they’ll make with their new friend.

Having a dog as part of your household can also teach your children to respect animals, follow schedules and even to pick up their toys. When your child asks for a family dog, consider all the great changes that might take place, it may just be more positive then you ever thought possible.

However when it comes to dog worms symptoms are so much worse if your children become infected.

The main culprits that can adversely affect your children are roundworms and hookworms.

Hookworms live in the small intestine of dogs and drink blood. These dog worms symptoms in your pet are anemia and black sticky feces, due to the digested blood passing down the digestive tract. However in your child, the larvae migrate under the skin and cause red itchy eruptions which can become infected.

Another, more severe problem is caused by canine roundworms.

In dogs they can cause diarrhea, distended belly and loss of condition, but again these dog worms symptoms in your child are severe.

The larvae migrate through the liver, brain and eye. An infected child can develop seizures or blindness.

In both cases, treatment involves medication for the people to kill the parasites. However, it is much better to stop the infection in the first place because the dog worms symptoms may be permanent, such as blindness.

To do this, regularly worm your dog with an effective wormer. Speak to your veterinarian about how often is necessary in your area and what products he recommends.

If you can do this, then you can prevent the development of these terrible dog worms symptoms in your child, and avoid any permanent damage to your child’s health.

Choices for children: allergy-friendly dogs

Maltese
Maltese are adorable, fluffy little dogs that love babies, children and even cats. That out-going attitude is part of their natural fearlessness. They shed very little, but their soft, silky coat does require regular grooming to preventing matting. Keep in mind that toy varieties are too fragile for children, so choose a Maltese larger than seven pounds.

Poodle
Surprisingly, the dog breed famous for its abundant hair is actually low-allergy. The toy size may be the best known, but poodles come in several sizes, ranging from toy (less than 11 inches) to standard (over 15 inches). These curious, acrobatic dogs make great playmates and, in fact, require lots of interactive play or they’ll invariably get into mischief. They don’t like to roughhouse, though, so children should be taught to play gently with them.

Puli
If you’re looking for a larger dog with an unusual look, the Hungarian Puli might be for you. Highly intelligent, agile, and protective, these dogs are ideal both as watch dogs and companions for active children. Just remember that they were breed as working dogs, so they need plenty of daily exercise to prevent boredom and behavior problem. Also, although their coat is low-allergy, it does require considerable up-keep.

Minimize allergens in the home
A little extra work can also cut down on dog allergy symptoms. Vacuum the floor and furniture daily to pick up hair and dander. Regularly wash your dog’s bedding to make sure no hair builds up. Groom your dog as required for the breed. Be aware, though, that over-bathing can cause dry skin, which leads to more dander and more allergic reactions, so only wash as needed.

For most children, allergy problems don’t have to mean a childhood without pets. Choose a low-allergy dog like a Maltese, Poodle or one of the many other allergy-friendly dog breeds and your kids can have a puppy playmate to love without any sniffles or watery eyes.