Vital Pet Health

What is the saying...... We decide whether or not we like someone in the first 7 seconds?! Now we are not sure our dogs are quite as judgemental as their owners yet we do realise the importance of that first meeting in setting up a successful and happy relationship between a new dog and family life.

Introducing to children

The dog in question may well have interacted with children in the past yet every occasion is different and new relationships must be forged. Allow the dog time to approach the children and do not force the meeting by taking the dog to them. This will help prevent feelings of being under threat and the dog will be less likely to snap in self defence.




Children can offer tit bits or a toy to encourage the dog to approach them. If they start by stroking under the chin instead of patting them on the head this will be a more gentle and appropriate approach at this time. Remember that at ground level a dog can be frightening to a child and so it is vital you are present at all times if the dog needs to be moved away.

Many dogs do not like being cuddled by strangers. It will take alot of supervision to establish acceptable behaviour for children in order for the new dog to feel comfortable.

After the initial introduction it would be a good idea to distract the children with a new game / toy. By giving them an alternative play option to the new pet, it will give the dog time and space to settle into home life instead of being the centre attention. Hopefully the extra time & space will make the dog feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Make sure the children are respecting the animal by controlling their volumes especially high pitched squeals.

Safe play

During their time together the children and dog must learn the rules of safe play. Varieties of dog such as Collies have a strong herding instinct and therefore may nip the children when interacting. A squealing response from the child will only excite the dog more and encourage the dog to repeat the behaviour. Such events must be stopped before they become a habit. Children need to learn not to bully or tease the dog and the dog not to be too boisterous or jumpy during play. It is vital that you supervise the children while these behaviours have been learned by both parties.

Please be aware it is not advisable to leave any child under the age of ten with any dog. 

Elderly dogs and children must also be supervised. If a dog has impaired vision or hearing they may be startled by the sudden movements of a child and bite in self defence. Ensure your children are aware of any difficulties the new pet may be suffering from and how they should manage their behaviour towards the dog to make them feel safe.

The last thing to say is that children benefit massively from having a pet. The obvious positive is the enjoyment a pet can bring yet they can also learn to care for something other than themselves. This is a powerful skill to learn and it will undoubtably help them manage situations of their own in the future.