Question:
Do you think it's safe to bring young children to a dog park? And how do you train a dog to feel comfortable and not threatened around children?Since I would hate to deny my dog the pleasures of the dog park (he loves the dogs and adults), do you have any suggestions on how I could help him feel more relaxed around children without exposing them to harm? He didn't like puppies when we first came to the park, but owners would encourage me to let him interact with the puppies to teach them manners. Now he really likes the puppies. I don't think any responsible parent would recommend the same training with respect to their children.
C.W., Minneapolis, MN Feb 03, 2008
Answer:
Until you are relaxed -- but still vigilant -- your dog will remain anxious when children come close, picking up on your tension and apprehension.He should learn that, just like puppies that haven't learned their boundaries yet, children, too, can be unruly and unpredictable, but they are no real threat to him. As crazy and threatening as their actions may seem to him, he should learn that they have no aggressive intentions.Any children who are running and screaming with dogs around should be immediately disciplined, made to be quiet and instructed to move slowly and respectfully, especially around strange dogs. Running and playing with their own dogs is another thing. There are enough parks for children to run and scream in where no dogs are allowed, so children at dog parks and children around dogs -- who do not know or trust them -- need to be strictly supervised at all times and appropriately educated.
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