How Many Times…..

After I read this article I was compelled to write this blog.

WHAT THE HELL is wrong with parents.  Dogs and children can live very happy intertwined lives if each is taught to respect the other…..  However many adult human beings don’t bother to train their dog or their children….

OK so here are some very simply and should be OBVIOUS rules…

1 — Children cannot take care of themselves let alone a dog.  If you get one and bring it to your house hold YOU as the ADULT are responsible for its, feeding, walking, thirst quenching, health, poop picking up.  Even if you say “we are getting a dog for the kids…”  Even if you have this conversation “It will be Johnny’s responsibility to walk Rover and Sally’s to feed him…”  Even if you have THE BEST kids on earth….  YOU ARE THE ADULT, YOU HAVE THE LOGICALLY THINKING BRAIN!  Or we would like to think.

2 — If the dog is bigger/weighs more than your child…  Then the child should not even hold the dog’s leash when you are with them…  They can walk beside you and learn the proper way to walk the dog and deal with approaching people, but if that dog can pull your child behind it like a kite when it runs….  IS THAT REALLY SAFE FOR ANYONE INVOLVED?  Think about it…..

3 — Dog’s should never be left alone with babies and children.  I don’t care how well-behaved your dog is, you have no idea what your child is doing when you are not watching.  The dog gives a growl to warn, that it wants no more of the baby screaming and kicking…  Baby has no idea what a growl is…  Dog holds on as long as he can…  Baby screams a little too loud, dog is startled, bites…  what next….  We all know….  You lovely good-natured dog who would not hurt a fly, becomes a vicious dog that you don’t want around or no longer trust….  When you set this all in motion in the first place….

4 — It is not funny for a baby to use the dogs fur to pull up when learning to walk… and other such scenarios…  Not only should you teach your kids to respect your dog…  YOU have to learn this too….  No matter how cute it is to watch baby darling crawl up to the dog and eat the dog food…  The dog does not feel the same as you….  No matter how cute it is to see baby darling crawl up and use Rovers fur to stand up with, IT HURTS…  Give your hair a tug, see how you like it.

5 — Teach your child that not all dogs are like yours.  I am a dog lover.  I have to fight myself every time I see a dog to not run up and throw myself at it.  However I have learned to say “can I say hi to your dog” if they say no then I happily say “Ok” and move on.  Someone else’s dog is someone else’s dog.  Just because your dog is tolerant of your child….  Doesn’t mean Max from two streets over is going to be too….  Teach your kids that they HAVE to ask before running up on a dog…. 

6 — If you have a fear of dogs…. DON’T TRANSFER IT TO YOUR CHILD!  Fears can be learned…  But they don’t have to be.  Your fear of dogs, does not have to become your child’s fear too! 

I know that everyone thinks their dog is perfect…  God knows I think mine is and he ate my (fake) Ugg boot last night while I was sleeping!  To me he is still perfect.  However I know his limitations.  Only you know your dogs limitations.  You are his life line…  You are his voice…  Be smart!