To have dogs with children and children with dogs, is mostly a foundation of respect and understanding of each others nature - both from the dog and the child.  The child will always have a friend who listens, and the dog will always have a “treatprovider” as we all know there are tidbits wherever there are children, if not, at least they taste nice (around their mouths).

But as with all relationships between young people and animals, there has to be supervision. The dog needs to learn how to interact with children and the children need to learn how to interact with dogs. This is where parental advise and supervision comes in handy, at least if the adult people know how to do and what to do.

First of all, learn all the basic skills a dog owner must know, starting with pack ranking and mind stimulation of the dogs (and of the children…) If a family has well behaved obedient children who listens to what their parents tell them, they are most likely not the ones to have problems with the relation to the dog. Why is that then? Because that family has something very important! They have rules for behavior. The breeders I have had the honour to buy my Rottweilers from (two different responsible breeders)  have both told me that if the family who wants to buy a puppy from them, has children, they insist on meeting the entire family. If the children go nuts and run around without listening to the parents, they are not allowed to buy a dog from the breeders, but if the children behave nicely and are well mannered, they are more than welcome to a puppy from the expected litter. 

We must remember that the first days of a puppy’s new life in the family is very stressful as it is the first time the puppy is separated from mum and siblings, so its crucial that the family gives it peace, and not letting the children run around and play wild with it. When the dogs confidence grows and it has settled well, the children need to be involved in the daily care of the dog, like putting the food down, and “training” little tricks like “paw” or “sit” (of course with adult supervision)

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