25/06/2025
Everyone wants their child and dog to be best friends, and in an ideal world, I would love this too. However, the reality is that children are at a higher risk of being bitten by a dog than any other demographic. Their unpredictable behavior, lack of impulse control, and inability to read a dog's body language can lead to some overwhelming situations for the dog. This is why it's so important for kids to learn to respect a dog's boundaries. This means:
🐾 Respecting a dog's wishes for space or alone time.
🐾 Not touching a dog's personal items like beds and toys - especially while the dog is using it!
🐾 Not touching a dog's food, bowls, or interacting with them while eating.
One of our favorite things to do with our toddler and Zuko is to allow her to give him a chew stick. We first ask Zuko to sit while we give our toddler the chew stick. Then she lays it on the floor in front of him so he can take it (Zuko isn't always gentle when taking food so we are teaching her to feed him by putting the food on the floor). While he eats it, we practice sitting and watching him calmly (no touching or petting!). She absolutely loves this, and both of them look forward to it every day. And nothing makes me happier than hearing her say "Look, Zuko's happy now!" 😊
What are some fun and safe ways that you teach your kids to respect your dog's boundaries?
