07/28/2026
Dogs & Children: One of the Most Preventable Bite Situations
I recently worked on a bite case where a small child climbed on top of a large dog while the dog was sleeping. The dog startled awake and gave a quick nip. Thankfully, it barely left a mark, but the outcome could have been much worse.
This is called a startle reflex, and in this situation, I don’t believe the dog was at fault.
Dogs deserve to be able to sleep without someone climbing on them. A dog that is asleep, eating, chewing a bone, cornered, or trying to walk away should always be left alone.
As both a professional dog trainer and a mother of three, I understand how quickly things happen. For many years I also ran board-and-train programs from my home, and my own children helped dogs learn appropriate interactions with children . Every interaction was carefully supervised—even with puppies. That wasn’t because I didn’t trust the dogs. It was because it was my responsibility to set everyone up for success.
The same responsibility belongs to us as parents and dog owners.
Here are a few ways to help children and dogs build a safe relationship:
• Teach children to never disturb a sleeping dog.
• Don’t allow climbing, laying on, riding, or pulling on a dog. As for hugging, every dog is different. Ranger happily tolerates my kids hugging him because those interactions were built over years with clear boundaries and supervision. Many dogs do not enjoy hugs, so don’t assume a dog is comfortable just because they don’t move away.
• Let the dog choose whether to approach the child instead of forcing interaction.
• Supervise every interaction, especially with young children.
• Give your dog a designated safe space—a crate, bed, mat, or even under a table or desk—where they can rest without being disturbed. If your dog chooses to go there, children should leave them completely alone.
• Teach children to pet gently on the shoulders or chest. Avoid reaching over a dog’s head, as many dogs find this intimidating. Instead, let the dog come to the child and pet from the side or under the chin if the dog is comfortable.
• Reward your dog for calm behavior around children with praise or treats.
• Watch your dog’s body language. Lip licking, yawning, turning away, stiffening, whale eye, or trying to leave are all signs your dog needs space.
• Never punish a growl. A growl is communication, and we want dogs to tell us they’re uncomfortable before they ever feel the need to bite.
I’ve walked into homes where a child was allowed to repeatedly chase the family dog until the dog crawled under a couch or table just to escape. The child would continue following the dog into its safe space while the adults watched.
That isn’t teaching a child to love dogs—it’s teaching the dog that children don’t respect boundaries.
One of the most valuable lessons we can teach children is that when a dog walks away, goes into its crate, gets under furniture, or heads to its bed, the dog is asking for space. We should honor that request.
And let’s not forget the little dogs.
Small dogs often have some of the hardest experiences with children because they’re frequently picked up without warning, dragged around, chased, squeezed, or accidentally dropped. Over time, many begin to associate children with fear and discomfort. To a 10-pound dog, a toddler can feel overwhelming.
Teaching children how to respectfully interact with all dogs—large and small—is one of the best bite prevention tools we have.
Our goal shouldn’t be to prove that a dog will “tolerate” anything. Our goal should be to teach children to respect dogs and teach dogs that children are safe and predictable.
That’s how we keep everyone safe.
