When you have both children and dogs, the little ones can get snappy. And I’m not just talking about the dogs! Read the July 24, 2011 For Better or Worse comic, and you may get a new perspective!

This is a tolerant dog who loves his boy! Most dogs don't like this level of closeness - think of the appropriateness of hugging a stranger.

Teach your child to behave appropriately, and not only will your dog thank you, but your child will become safer around other people’s pets. Some tips for your child are:

1. Use walking feet and inside voices. Dogs see a running screaming child as a playmate, and dog play sometimes involves jumping and nipping.
2. Always ask an adult before approaching someone’s pet.
3. Approach dogs from the front so they see you coming.
4. Let the dog sniff you first, then pet him on the neck – not the head.

Learn how to read dog emotions so you can help your child meet and interact with family dogs. For more information on reading dog body language, see our blog entry What is Your Dog Telling You? Read His Lips…

Still having nipping problems? Find a trainer who specializes in aggression issues. Be prepared that good trainers teach people as well as train dogs, and you and your family will need to do some homework. If training with a professional doesn’t work, your dog may not be suited for a household with children. To find a new home, go through a no-kill organization to guarantee your dog is adopted rather than euthanized.

Your dog (and everyone else’s) will thank you!

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…and eyes, and ears, and tail…

Dogs don’t communicate with words or crying like we do. Their whining, barking, and growling is used in limited, and usually extreme, situations. To “hear” what your dog is saying, you really need to watch their body language.

Use these signals to assess your dog during training, agility, or other dog competitions. If you see signs of stress, try something easier for the dog to build up his confidence. Find games you can play to take his (and your) mind off of the surroundings at sporting events such as Touch Nose to Hand or other dog tricks.

A calm dog is relaxed – especially his eyes, mouth, ears, and tail. Take for example Rankine when his baby is walking all over him. Notice how his ears, lips, and eyes are relaxed. This is a calm dog who doesn’t mind the baby’s antics.

Had Rankine been asking baby to stop, you may have seen one of the following cues:

• Lip licking
• Yawning
• Ear flicking
• Flinching
• A “crescent” shaped whites of his eyes
• Intentional turning away from the baby
• “Freezing.” This is different from stillness in that you can almost see the tension in the body. If you ever see a dog “freeze,” beware. This is often a precursor to snapping.

You can learn more about a dog’s body language at Living with Kids and Dogs by Colleen Pelar. Watch her videos to see how dogs show their stress.

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Our baby started crawling two months ago.  Up until now, the dogs have been able to out run the baby.  Just recently he has started to pull on the dogs and chase after them.  My youngest Golden Retriever is extremely tolerant letting our baby crawl over him, hug him, and pull on him.  I wish I could say the same for our other three dogs who look like they are being tortured.

A few days ago, my cocker spaniel started growling and nipping at the baby.  Our first instinct was to scold the dog, after all the baby’s safety is first priority.  We then started giving our dog options for escape such as going outside or laying on the back of the sofa.  This worked for a little while, but the baby is persistent.  So, I have started to train our cocker spaniel to respond to the baby’s advances by giving kisses.  The dog licks the baby’s face, the baby laughs and then goes on about his business – so far, so good.

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If you’re thinking of getting a puppy there a few important things that help your puppy be a good family member. A puppy that has been secluded and not exposed to other environments could end up being scared and timid. You want your new puppy to accept people, other dogs and new situations.

One way you can do this is to join a group puppy class. Puppy classes are a combination of training and social play time.

If you don’t have access to a class you can take your puppy to places that allow dogs. Some communities have dog parks where dogs are allowed off leash to romp with each other. If your puppy is younger than six months you might want to reconsider being in the company of older dogs as a safety precaution. Some older dogs do not want a rambunctious puppy jumping on them, or being in their space. Some older dogs have no hesitation in biting or attacking a puppy. Make sure you ask the dog’s owner if it’s safe to approach.

Socialize your new puppy at other places that allow them to enter. Stores that allow dogs are Home Depot (some do not), Lowes, PetSmart, PetCo, pet supply stores, and strip shopping centers on the sidewalks. Ask people to give your dog a treat and pet him. When friends and family come to your house, ask them to do the same.

Puppies have just left their litter mates where their social skills got started. They need to develop those skills to help them co-exist in the world with dogs and people. When you take them home, they don’t have other buddies to learn their boundaries when it comes to being with other dogs. Get them out as much as you can. You will want a friendly, confident dog.

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