Children and dogs

Children and dogs

Children and dogs can make wonderful friends, and owning a dog can foster in them a sense of compassion, empathy, and respect for all living creatures. A child's social abilities with others can be enhanced by dog companionship, and taking care of a pet can instill responsibility.

As a result, many households own dogs. Children pick up on treating dogs as members of the family very quickly, but parents must teach their kids safety precautions when around dogs in order to keep both kids and dogs safe.

Children and dogs communicate in different ways.

Dogs perceive children's communication differently than that of humans; they scream, wail, shriek, crawl, and flail their arms while running. Dogs have a difficult time understanding kids, and they have an even harder time telling them when they're done playing!

Children frequently embrace, love, hold, and chastise dogs as though they were their classmates. Children use intimate facial contact, such as kissing, to show their love for their family. Despite the fact that it could seem cute, a dog might view this as threatening and harmful.

These factors make young children the most vulnerable to bites of any group, and studies indicate that children are significantly more likely than any other group to be bitten by the family dog. To ensure your child's safety and your dog's happiness, there are numerous things you may do.

Our best advice for keeping children secure and dogs content

See our video featuring our very own Samantha Gaines, a dog owner, toddler mother, and specialist in canine care, for some of her best advice.

Encouraging kids and pets to live happily together

Check out our 6 Golden Rules for a brief tutorial on how to keep kids and dogs safe, and get familiar with key body language cues.

Children frequently embrace, love, hold, and chastise dogs as though they were their classmates. Children use intimate facial contact, such as kissing, to show their love for their family. Despite the fact that it could seem cute, a dog might view this as threatening and harmful.


Due to these factors, young children are more susceptible than any other group to get bitten, and studies indicate that kids are significantly more likely than anyone else to get bitten by the family dog. To ensure your child's safety and your dog's happiness, there are numerous things you may do.

To learn more,