Recent events have brought up some very relevant questions. Chief among them is “How do I make my dog safe around children” This is a very good question and one that should be given careful consideration if you expect to have your dog interact with small children. Movies like “Lassie” encourage the fallacy that dogs are naturally good with children. In many cases this is not true at all. Some breeds are known to be more child-tolerant. Although not commonly known, Pit bulls are at the top of this list. But every dog is an individual and needs to be treated as such. There are five distinct things we can do to ensure our dogs are as safe as possible.

Temperament evaluation:

Before you get Fido home and fall in love with him have him evaluated. Each dog should be evaluated by a qualified trainer to determine its temperament. Many shelters already provide this service and should have the evaluation available for you to look at. If we are choosing a dog for a child we want an outgoing dog, never the shy or nervous dog. When I observe the interaction between dog and child I’m looking for a happy waggy dog that directly approaches the child. It is not enough for the dog to tolerate attention. It should directly approach and solicit attention from that child. We also need to make sure that that dog does not have any possession issues over its food or toys. Possession can be cured, but is a long process and not one to start with a brand new dog. Finally, we need to be sure that that dog can handle the general kafuffle of childhood. Do big noises bother it? Does it back away when hugged? Does it want to be dressed in a costume for Halloween? We need this dog to tolerate a lot, so let’s be sure it’s up to it.

Training:

Now that we have the perfect dog we need to train it. This perfect dog is the perfect vessel for training. Immediately if not sooner you need to get your dog and your entire family into a positively run doggie school. If it is a puppy it needs puppy class, if an adult then a well run obedience class. The thing to keep in mind here is that you are not only teaching your dog how it earns the things it wants in life. You are also teaching your dog what is safe and what is not. I always keep in my mind when training that I would never do to a dog what a two year old couldn’t. If I expect my dog to allow children to reach for her head than I need to be sure that it is always good when I reach for her head. A good positively based class will teach you safe and fun ways to interact with your dog.

Socialization, Socialization, Socialization:

This is a continual process. It’s not enough to take your dog to one class, and then have it sit out in the backyard. If you want your dog to be social then it needs a social life. It needs to go out, and see, and interact with all different types of people. Many stores such as Nordstrom and Home Depot allow you to bring your dogs inside. Along these lines remember every interaction is having an effect on your dog. Do not leave your dog in the front yard or openly fenced back yard where it can have negative social experiences outside of your control. A few kids teasing your dog through a fence can set your dog’s socialization way back, possibly to a unfixable point.

Supervision:

Even the best trained sweetest Bomb-Proofed dog should NEVER be left alone with a child, never. If your household is so busy that you cannot always supervise the dog and the child, this is probably not the time in your life to have a dog. Left alone, dogs and kids can be amazingly inventive in the myriad ways they can get into trouble. And while it is necessary to supervise one dog this necessity is trebled with two or more dogs. Dogs are pack animals, and often react to each other’s actions and energy levels. Nothing good can come from a toddler romping unsupervised with a pack of dogs.

Neutering and Spaying:

Intact dogs present issues all of their own. Intact males can become territorial and possessive of their mates. Intact females are quite often nervous when in heat and quite possessive of their litters. Never should we have an intact male and female together in a home with children. There is far too much cause for real concern when mating animals are in the presence of children. Unless you are a qualified breeder with years of knowledge, spay and neuter your pet.

By following these five simple rules, you can ensure a long and happy life with your pet and your family. Dogs enrich our lives in numerous ways. In return, we should treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve.

Bobbi Durston, CTC, CPDT has been the Behavior and Training Coordinator for the Humane Society of the North Bay (formerly Benicia Vallejo Humane Society) for the past two years. In addition to her work with the shelter Bobbi has been a trainer for Sirius Dog training for the past 8 years and is a specialist in aggression in her private work. Bobbi has both her Certificate in training and Counseling through the San Francisco SPCA’s Trainers Academy and her Certificate in Pet Dog Training through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Bobbi now actively mentors other trainers interested in working with aggressive dogs and learning the Sirius training method. You can send your dog training Question to AskBobbiD@bvhumane.org

Bobbi Durston, CTC, CPDT has been the Behavior and Training Coordinator for the Humane Society of the North Bay (formerly Benicia Vallejo Humane Society) for the past two years. In addition to her work with the shelter Bobbi has been a trainer for Sirius Dog training for the past 8 years and is a specialist in aggression in her private work. Bobbi has both her Certificate in training and Counseling through the San Francisco SPCA’s Trainers Academy and her Certificate in Pet Dog Training through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Bobbi now actively mentors other trainers interested in working with aggressive dogs and learning the Sirius training method. You can send your dog training Question to AskBobbiD@bvhumane.org