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Whether you will soon be welcoming a new member of the family or are moving to a neighborhood near a school or with many young children, you need to start teaching your furry friend how to behave around kids. However, this process might be difficult if your pet is new to the concept. The veterinarians at Montgomery Animal Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, are knowledgeable about the behavior and care for all kinds of pets and offer advice on the subject.

Here’s the ground rule – never leave young children and pets together unattended. There are too many ways that a child can provoke an aggressive response in even a well-mannered family pet. My own daughter smacked our dog hard on the nose when she was 9 months old. As I was crossing the room to get her she got in 3 hits and our dog finally growled and snapped. Fortunately she only snapped at the air and didn’t injure the baby at all, but her response was entirely understandable and appropriate.

3 Tips for Training Your Pet to Be Kid-Friendly

1. Work With Your Inner Child

Before introducing your pet to a child, try out some kid-like behaviors, such as using a high-pitched voice, doing erratic movements, and running around. You can observe how your pet reacts to get a good idea of how they will handle a situation with young children. From there, you can start doing incentive exercises, such as praising your pet or giving treats when they react positively to your childlike behaviors. Then, when you introduce your pet to a real child, make sure both the child and your dog or cat are calm and under control. If your pet is hiding behind you or the furniture, ask the child to step back until the pet is comfortable again. Asking the child to gently roll yummy treats towards the pet can help encourage nervous pets to come forward. Be patient. Getting children and shy pets together can take multiple positive training sessions. 

2. Practice Handling Exercises 

veterinarianMany young children have a hard time distinguishing the boundaries between a toy and a real pet, so it’s likely they might tug tails and ears or give lots of hugs and head pats. Try some of these on your pet gently while increasing the spontaneity of the action. Make sure to give lots of praise or treats if they handle the situation well. Remind children to be gentle as they interact with your pet, and to pet with an open hand.

3. Visit Your Vet

If you are concerned about your pets’ response to children, a veterinarian might be able to help. Behavioral questions are part of our comprehensive physical exams. Sometimes aggressiveness or other potentially dangerous reactions might be due to an underlying cause or medical condition (especially painful conditions like arthritis). Veterinary care can give you a proper diagnosis and offer solutions.

4. Bonus tip – teach the child! 

Read Dr. Krumanaker’s article on safe dog handling for children.

Above all, you shouldn’t force your pet to accept children. With patience, training, and regular visits to your veterinarian, your furry friend will likely become acclimated to children. Montgomery Animal Hospital in Cincinnati has been an American Animal Hospital Association-accredited veterinary clinic for over 65 years. They’re dedicated to caring for all of your pet’s needs, from prescribing medication to addressing behavioral issues. For more information on their services, visit them online or call (513) 791-7912 today.

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