Dogs make wonderful family pets, but it’s important that you take several factors into consideration if you’re thinking about introducing a dog into the family home. While a furry friend can serve as a welcoming companion to a child, you’ll want to ensure the safety of your dog and your kids so that you can all live in harmony. Here are a few tips on new dog introduction to children.
The Benefits of Having a Pet Dog
Numerous studies point to the improved mental health and wellbeing of children raised with pets. Research conducted by the University of Western Australia (UWA) reveals that walking and playing with dogs can facilitate healthy social development and improved physical activity in young children. It has also been suggested that unstructured interactions with dogs can improve symptoms of stress in children, reduce anxiety and induce positive emotions. Further studies have even shown that children with learning disabilities who are raised in homes with pet dogs experience significant reductions in family stress.
While there are ample benefits to introducing a dog into the family home, you’ll want to ensure the safety of both your dog and your kids so that you can all live in harmony.
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Preparing for the Introduction
It’s advisable to have a structured plan and all preparations in place before introducing your new dog into the family home. Talk to your children about how to recognise signs of canine stress such as panting, pacing, cowering or having their ears pinned back. Discussing different types of dog behaviour with your children will help them set clearer boundaries and help them to have sensitivity towards any signs of distress.
It is vital that you remove any potentially hazardous materials that your dog could accidentally ingest before welcoming them into your home, as well as educating your children about any foods that might be dangerous for dogs. For example, foods such as chocolate, onions and yeast products should be kept away from dogs. Did you know some common household items, such as medicines, can be toxic to a dog? Non-edible items such as antifreeze and fabric softener sheets can also be dangerous for your pet. Educating your children on all these hazards will help them prevent and be prepared for a medical emergency. Vet bills can be extremely costly if ill-prepared, so make sure to have a good pet insurance plan in place in the event your dog requires medical attention. That way, you can be confident you can provide the appropriate care if you come into any emergencies.
Training Your Dog
It is best to start handling exercises with your dog when introducing them to the family. Younger children can be unintentionally rough when handling dogs, so it’s important to build up contact with younger children slowly, pairing slightly rougher handling with a treat to as to prepare them for more contact with the child.
If your new dog appears nervous around children, you may need to desensitize and counter condition your dog to the presence of kids. This will involve gradually exposing your dog to children at a level they’re comfortable with, then pairing the experience with the presentation of a positive stimulus. Think of an item that excites your dog, such as a tennis ball or chicken. Pairing one of these items in the presence of your children if they’re nervous can help the dog to associate the experience with the positive stimulus – ultimately lowering their anxiety. If your dog is particularly anxious, it may be worth seeking the advice of a dog trainer or animal behaviourist.
Give Your Dog Time to Adjust
When welcoming a new dog into your home, it’s important to be patient and give them time to settle in. Generally, it can take up to a few weeks for puppies to get used to their new homes, however, this will vary depending on the puppy’s breed, personality, and the environment of the home. As your dog gets older, they may develop joint pain and stiffness. To help alleviate these symptoms, consider giving them Mighty Munch, the best joint supplement for dogs.
The adjustment period is also dependent on the age of the puppy. Younger dogs tend to adapt faster to new environments than older ones; however, removing a puppy from its mother too early can cause emotional distress and behavioural issues later down the line. For this reason, it’s recommended to wait till the third month after birth before introducing a puppy into the home.
With these recommendations, we’re sure that in a few weeks, your new dog will be comfortably accustomed to living with their new family. Taking the time to educate your children and create the right environment for your new dog will greatly improve safety for everyone in the household.