Child Safety Tips- Handling Puppies

Dear Scarlet....can I leave my young child alone with my pup?

Young children may innocently pull on a pups ear or tail, drop their pup by accident, or approach eating and sleeping areas without caution. As a result the puppy or child may become scared or get hurt. So to be on the safe side it's best to supervise your young child's interaction with his/her pup, and to teach apppropriate respect.

What are some tips for child safety? 

• Teach your child never to pull a dog's tail or ears. 
• Keep children away from dogs that are eating or sleeping. 
• Guide young children's hands to show them how to pet their pup gently.  
• Have young children play on the floor or ground with their puppy, if possible. Teach them to scoop up the puppy into their laps with their hands firmly (but gently) around the puppies midsection. 
• Older children should be taught to pick up a puppy with both hands firmly, but gently, around the rib cage and slowly lift it to chest level, with the pup held firmly against their chest..
• Teach children not to tease their pup, or play too roughly. 
• Guide young children's hands to show them where and how to pet their dog gently.
• Teach young children not to pull on the front legs of a puppy. Dogs do not have the same shoulder rotation as people do and pulling on their front legs can cause permanent damage.
• Keep children away from dogs that are eating or sleeping.
• When meeting other people's dogs, for safety reasons, be sure you or your children ask the dog owner for permission before petting. 
• Do not pet an unfamiliar dog by reaching over his head. The dog may get scared by strangers looming over and reaching towards them. Always offer your hand first, to allow the dog to sniff you and invite you to pet him, then reach under his chin and pet the side of his face, under his chin, or on his chest.
• For safety reasons, do not leave young children unsupervised around dogs.

   (source: Colleen Paige, The Good Behavior Book for Dogs)  

                              

            What a beautiful world it would 

            be if people had hearts like dogs

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