Dogs and Kids: Summer Bonding Time

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Time = Bond

Summer will be here before you know it and so will the unique opportunity that Summer provides our kids. Bonding with their dogs requires time and some patient help in understanding what it takes to get Fido to be their sidekick for all things fun.

There are many ways we can help our kids build a bond with their dogs that will last throughout their time together. Following are a few of the tips that come to mind. What are yours?

• Make the decision about when your child is ready for more responsibility with great care. Complete respect for your dog's health and safety, as well as that of other children, is imperative.
• Let your kids feed your pets during the Summer. Dogs generally bond more closely to those that provide their nourishment.
• Offer safety tips and do's and don'ts when are kids are learning to feed your pets. Understanding food and toy aggression is important to their safety.
• Encourage your kids to play outdoors when taking their dog along on neighborhood play dates. Keeping Fido on a leash is an important part of that rule, and this time will allow your older kids to get a better understanding of the care and decision-making that goes into pets that are tagalongs.
• When friends come to your home to play with your kids, discourage rambunctious play in favor of games that may include your dog. Hide-n-Seek, Fetch, Frisbee, and Laser Tag are great fun for kids and their dogs. Be sure to monitor their activities and let them know you are supervising. Your dog will appreciate your concern as much as their attentions.
• As much as I'm a dog park lover, I don't believe this is a terrific place for kids under
  
  the age of about 10 or possibly even 12. Even at this age, your son or daughter will need much instruction to be safe and enjoy the experience. Check out these tips: Dog Park Safety Challenges for Children and Dog Park Visits: Preparing Kids for a Safe First Experience.
• Beyond adolescence you'll find your kids may take their own path in regard to spending time with their dog. Building this relationship before that time is important to cementing it for the future. College homecomings are wonderful when Fido greets his "kid" at the door happily.
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Ask the Dog Trainer, with Terry Lynn Cuyler: Teaching Kids Proper Dog Greetings

by Terry Lynn Cuyler, CPDT-KA

Dear Terry,

I have 3 young children. We often visit families with dogs. I would like to hear from a trainer what the best way is to teach my kids to greet the dogs properly. Can you tell me what behavior is normal from the dogs so I can teach my children what to expect and what is acceptable. They need to know how to greet and be greeted without fear, but I do not know how to teach this. Help!

Lily C.

---------------------------------------------------------

Dear Lily:


Kids and dogs are wonderful but you are wise to follow steps to ensure the safety of your children.


First, ASK the human holding the leash if it is OK to pet their dog and how it likes to be petted. Then, stand still and have the back of your hand out for the dog to sniff. Let the dog come to you so it is comfortable. Fearful dogs are more likely to try to defend themselves. Then pet the dog under the chin instead of on the head, unless the handler instructs differently. Do not hug the dog. If the dog is OFF leash stand still as a tree and let the dog sniff you.


Most counties have programs bringing dogs and info into the schools to teach about safe dog greetings. Perhaps you could contact your county to come into your school and teach dog safety. A good website is Colleen Pelar’s - KidsandDogs.com which has many useful tips. Her very brief videos help to show some of the greeting methods that dogs do not appreciate; this is excellent material and well worth the few seconds to watch each of the 3 short clips. I also love the pictorial of  dog body language that helps us understand what certain signals mean. Canine Stress Signals is a set of laminated bookmarks this is a great teaching tool or family reference; you can purchase at this link. 


PawsProf

Our ASK THE DOG TRAINER Column can be reached atLetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. For more information on Terry Lynn Cuyler and her training, you may find her at Paws Prof. A personal appointment with a trainer will likely provide more specific information on your dog's issues and your questions. You can read more of Terry Lynn Cuyler's training questions at her Archives page.

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Dog Proofing Your House

Jacque Must be Watched Carefully

While Playing with his Toys

I know. I know. You're probably thinking, "Is she crazy?" I have a Chihuahua and my neighbor has a Great Dane. How can she possibly tell us both how to dog proof in one short post? Okay, you're right. It probably won't be that short. Here goes:

Dog Proofing for your Small to Medium Sized Dog

Anything from a teacup Yorkie to a Cocker Spaniel may not appear to be tall enough to get something dangerous off of your kitchen counter, right? Think again. Dogs are smart. I've seen my Papillon jump from a chair seat to a table top and from the bed to a dresser top. So keep in mind that if something appeals to your dog's nose, he'll often figure out how to get to it.

Now that you know where I'm coming from, I'll share some of the things I've done to protect both the dogs and our possessions from danger:

1. Start with the area of your home that your dog(s) is allowed to spend time in and be sure it is as secure as possible. Can he jump your baby gate or open it ? Has he mastered opening doors or getting over or around furniture you thought was a deterrant? Tanner can open Oliver's crate and our child-guard latched baby gate. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. We've renamed him Houdini. Check out my post on the other amazing slips he's performed.


2. Now start with this area that your dog calls his own. By this I mean whatever part of your home your dog has full access to. Starting at floor level, check all cords and cables. They should be slid under furniture and rugs or between tables and couches. In other words, not accessible to anyone other than a teacup pup that can go most anywhere a cockroach would travel. If your tiny one likes to go after things under the couch or other low pieces of furniture, you'll have to take extra evasive action. Duct tape the cords to something that is not of interest to your dog's chewing instincts, or use PVC piping for a conduit. The latter is your best bet for cords under a bed, couch or other low furniture.


3. Now check your under the bed storage. Assure that all containers are made of hard plastic, not cardboard, and their lids snap on securely. Do not store food in these, no matter how secure they may seem. A family I once knew lost a dog when it found their chocolate stash under the bed, all wrapped up for the holidays.


4. Next check your wallpapered areas for tears. One little corner pulled up is like a giant invitation for a chew-fest.


5. Do the same thing with mop boards and wood trim along cabinets. Secure them and fill in holes that might encourage chewing.


6. Inspect your dog's toy box or basket regularly for chewing evidence. When one area tears, this will lead to larger pieces coming off. This is a safety hazard, as is a chunk out of a toy. Check the toys as well, ensuring they are all safe for continued play.


7. Check your carpets and rugs for snags, pulls, loose fibers, etc. Some will require snipping to keep the pup's interest at bay. Others may need to be stitched down or pulled through to the bottom. Be particularly diligent in watching rubber-backed rugs for chewing. If the rug is rumpled when you come into the room, turn it over and inspect it for damage. You'll know if Fido is finding this rubber backing interesting.


8. Anything stuffed can spell digestive system blockage if your dog chews it open and ingests the stuffing. This means pillows, toys, chair cushions and children's stuffed animals and dolls. Until your dog is past his interest in such things, these should be placed well out of reach. Stuffed dog toys should not be left out except when you are supervising, at least until you know your dog's tendency to destroy or simply carry these toys. Every dog is different.


9. Every desktop, counter top, table and other surface will contain a plethora of potentially dangerous "toys", in your dog's eyes. Common items such as pens, pencils, clothespins, hair clips, jewelry, razors (Wow!), flatware, matchbooks, computer supplies such as flash drives and camera chips, batteries, medications, knick-knacks, candles, houseplants, flower arrangements (live, silk, or dried), headphones....okay, that's enough. You get the idea. Place all these smaller items in containers, boxes, baskets or jars--out of reach. *** NOTE: Last weekend Oliver pulled a quickie on my family when we looked the other way for a few moments. He quickly devoured a bowl full of cherry pits that we were eating--cyanide filled cherry pits that can kill a dog. Long story short, we spent the afternoon inducing vomiting and then running to the emergency vet when that didn't work. Keep a close eye on your snacks!

Here's some more anecdotal evidence of the danger I'm concerned about. A few years ago when my daughter was preparing for a Homecoming Dance, she had just shaved and laid down the razor. She was right there, so what's the harm? Tanner came out of nowhere and grabbed it; by the time we caught up with him, he had a bloody mouth. The razor was nowhere to be found. We assumed he swallowed it and rushed him to the hospital. During the X-rays, the razor was found under a chair in a corner of the house. Dogs know when they're not supposed to have something, so they tend to hide it from us while they play and investigate our neat stuff. Beware!

Now let's continue with your dog proofing expedition, moving on to the concerns for the bigger dogs with access to more areas:

1. Food. I'm sure you know, but your kids may forget. No food should ever be left anywhere but the refrigerator or the pantry, which should always be closed. I lost an entire plate of thawing chicken breasts (thankfully, boneless!) to Tanner's nose, despite having surrounded them on the counter by larger, heavier items--a barricade of sorts. It didn't work. Now I use the oven or microwave if something needs to sit out for a while.
2. Laundry areas and laundry baskets may or may not be accessible to your dogs. If they are, your clothing is at risk, as well as the dog. Intestinal blockage is serious business, often requiring surgery. If your dog likes clothing, get a covered hamper.
3. Trash is another thing that needs to be secure. Indoor trash cans with click open lids or releases you can tap with your foot are ideal.This is important in all areas of your home, not just the kitchen. Bathroom discards can be deadly for a dog, as can many items in an office or play area.
4. Children's toys are extremely appealing to dogs. If your kids are messy like mine were as youngsters, you'll need to be diligent about closing their bedroom doors and play areas off. Your only alternative to neatness or closed doors is plenty of secure storage space in your kids' rooms. Good luck getting them to use it.
5. Now let's talk about your big dog's toys. You probably already know that it isn't safe for him to play with your toy dog's balls or small toys. These items are a choking hazard for a larger dog. If you have large and small dogs in one home, you'll have to devise a system for keeping your big dog out of the little dog's toys, at least until he learns the rules. Extremely small toys that are appealing to your big dog should be kept out of his reach except when your toy dog is playing with them. Supervise this play carefully, for the benefit of your bigger dog, and offer him some exciting "big dog" toys to keep his attention. It's sometimes a juggling act, but very important.
6. If you have a dog who is protective of your home, you'll need to have an area that he can be safely and happily secured in when visitors come. Crate training is the ideal, since your pup will know this is his down time. Offering a special filled kong toy or other safe treat will keep him busy while you visit with your company.
7. A quick aside here: Some visitors may find your dogs annoying or even frightening, especially if they are jumpers. Your guests' comfort level with your dogs is important if you'd like them to visit again, so consider this along with the safety issues. Enforcing rules like "off the furniture" or "no jumping" is something that requires much time and practice to master. I speak from experience on that one.
8. The garage can be an exceptionally dangerous place for your dog to explore. Keeping him out when you're working in the yard or on your car may be challenging, if you enjoy allowing your dog to join you outside. Many dog owners do. If your garage is like the typical American version, it is a storage area. It's all that storage that you'll need to review. Cleaning solutions, yard chemicals, car products, sharp tools, trash, plastic trash bags, extension cords that are plugged in, recycle bins, and much more can all be hazardous to your dog. Inexpensive plastic shelving units can be purchased at most hardware stores. These are stackable and secure for heavy items, so you can place all your potentially hazardous stuff in bins on shelves out of reach. If you have a Great Dane, out of reach will be much higher up than it will be for your Chihuahua, but that's the price you pay for a 175 pound couch potato. Tanner's best friend at his doggie daycare is a beautiful harlequin Great Dane, and I'm a huge fan. But I know that Zeus can put his paws on my shoulders and give me a kiss on my forehead with no problem. That's no easy task for most dogs, as I am 5' 10" tall. Moral of the story: store according to your dogs' ability to reach; then add 6 more inches for good measure.

With this post, I hope to have accomplished one thing--make you aware of some of the household dangers to your dog that you may have not previously considered. There are probably plenty more. Send me your tips and I'll post them in an addendum. Your thoughts are often helpful to me. Keep those comments and emails coming. I love hearing from you.

Central Florida Green Guide Feature Story

West Orange Dog Park

Just a quickie here to let you know that Central Florida Green Guide just posted my second article, in a series of three, regarding visiting the dog park. If you're considering a dog park visit for the first time, I would encourage you to read Part I and Part II, and come back at the end of May for Part III. I'll be sure to note it here in my blog.

See you at the park!

Amazing Talent: Gin, the Dancing Dog

You have got to watch this amazing Border Collie performing in Britain's Got Talent:



I know after watching that video, you're just dying to have some fun with your dog. I just posted a new article on the Central Florida Green Guide, entitled Green Family Fun: Let's Visit the Dog Park. I hope you'll stop in and read it. Comments, please!

Child Safety at the Dog Park

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner and Toni

Demonstrate Small Child Safety

for Dog Park Visits

It may seem common sense to some, but apparently not to all. Small children can be at risk in off-leash dog parks. This is not necessarily because of aggressive dogs; however, it could be.

Dogs are much like children when they play at the park. They often run, while looking behind to see who is about to catch up to them. Bam! They run into someone. That someone could be a small child, and this accident could be devastating.

So what is my point? While I believe that dog parks are not really good places for small children--particularly the large dog areas--I see it often. Despite the posted rules of the park including "No small children" and "No strollers or wheelchairs", many families bring in their babies, toddlers and young children.

When I see them enter, I occasionally approach the parents and warn them of my gregarious Golden Retriever, Tanner, who loves nothing more than to give everyone a welcoming kiss as they arrive at the park. I know his hellos are not exactly proper etiquette, but he is the quintessential Golden Retriever; that is to say he loves people and is very demonstrative in this love. So far Tanner has not knocked any children over, but my friend, Michele, was run into by Tanner and a group of energetic dogs who were playing tag. She hit the ground hard, so imagine what would have happened if it she were a 40 pound youngster. Ouch!

So, what can you do to protect your little one, if you do choose to take him to the park? Two things come to mind for starters:

• Go with another adult, so there is someone to handle the dog, and someone to handle the child. In case of a problem, you cannot handle both safely.
• For her safety, hold your youngster in your arms and instruct her to remain quiet and calm while inside the park. This is her time to watch and learn.

Tanner and Toni are demonstrating this in the photo above. Kind of silly, I know, but Tanner loves to be held like this. Sixty pounds of Golden Retriever is not an easy load, but Toni is strong and she loves to spoil him.

Children can be trusting too. Dog parks are simply not safe places for small children. If you have a choice, leave children at home or take a neighborhood walk instead; their safety should be paramount.

Want to learn more? I'll have a few more dog park topics coming along soon. Meanwhile, check out a book at the library, or perhaps one like this at Amazon: