Some dog breeds are highly possessive that they cannot handle the situations where you show love towards your kids. Sometimes, it could be vice versa and the kid may start to hurt the dog. This is highly dangerous as the dog may bite the kid. Hence, it is essential to develop good attachment between your kids and your pet dogs. If the kid is very small, they should not be let alone with the dogs without adult supervision.

Here are some simple ideas that will help you in developing good rapport between your dog and your child.

• It is essential that pets should be brought at home when the kids as well as dog are at their very early age. This will develop intimacy between the kid and the dog as they see each other right from the early age.

• Toddlers are not totally aware of their actions. Some of them could be hurting to the pets. Hence, it is essential to have adult supervision.

• If a new kid is to be brought in to the family, train your dog well ahead. Arrange a separate play area for the dog so that it interacts less with the child.

• Show equal importance or at least same love to the dog as you were showing before the arrival of the baby.

• Rather than separating the dog and the baby, you can teach the dog on how to handle the baby very gently. Teach it how to lie down just by the side of the cradle very calmly. If you teach the dog about handling small toys, you can engage your dog as well as your baby. This will help the dog realize that the new baby is a part of the family.

• Another way to develop attachment between the child and the dog is by teaching your child about how to feed the dog and how to satisfy the other needs of the dog.

• Try to involve even the pets while you play with the kids. Remember, it should be done only under adult supervision.

• If the child is old enough to handle the dog alone, you may now teach your child on how to groom, clean, and how to take it out for a walk. Another interesting option is you can ask the kid to train the dog on some skills like how to catch a Frisbee, how to wish when someone comes home, and some simple games.

• Another problem is when the child grows up he may lose interest in playing with the dog. In such cases dogs start to feel alone and start to show certain behavioral problems like aggression. Hence, it is essential to observe and maintain positive relationships.

• Rewarding the dog for good behavior will be helpful in developing relationship between the new baby and the dog.

• Some dogs get scared very easily when the baby cries considering that the baby is in some sort of trouble and start to behave abnormally. Take care if the dog is trying to soothe the baby. Never leave the baby with the dog without your supervision until you are confident of their relation.

Jonathan Pitts

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