Is Your Dog Safe From Harm When Children Are Around?

Children are excellent mimickers. Whatever they see on TV, they follow. That’s why movies, cartoons, and funniest home video shows are often to blame for children (and some adults) having all sorts of ideas about how to play with their dogs.

Scenes of children running around an open area while the puppy tags along at their feet may look sweet and harmless in an animated series, but in real life, could spell disaster for the dog.

Why Children Should Not Run About When Small Dogs Are Loose?

Young children, being who they are, are particularly fond of running about while playing. Their jubilant behaviors are often unfocused and many times they have jinking runs with unpredictable paths. And guess what, puppies and dogs especially untrained ones exhibit similar behaviors when at play.

Puppies and small dogs especially those Toy breeds are very delicate, much like babies. They are easily frighten, become startled by quick sudden movements, and can become injured when being knocked over, stepped on, or accidentally kicked.

Even with supervision, accidents do happen.

If your child falls down, or has his hand stepped on by another child, he is more likely to get up than not, bruised but otherwise fine. However, if your child falls onto or steps on a small dog or puppies, your canine friend is more likely to get injured or may never move again.

• Do not allow your child run in any space where there is a small dog or puppy in it—be it supervised or not.
• Do not let them chase the dogs no matter what the situation is.
• Do allow children play with small dog only in limited spaces, without moving carelessly about. However, these activities have to be supervised even with adult small dogs.

If your children still want round-and-tumble playtime with the dog despite your effort to instill the seven habits of strong relationship, perhaps you should trade-in your small dog for an adult Mastiff!