Kids and Dogs: How to Build a Safe, Positive Relationship

0:17 We love the idea of kids growing up with or around dogs. But what seems like a match made 0:24 in heaven can become a source of stress and anxiety. I receive a lot of questions in my 0:29 classes about the best way to make interactions between kids and dogs as positive as possible. 0:36 Challenges occur when dogs are nervous or hyperactive with kids, 0:40 and when kids haven't learned how to interact in a calm and respectful manner with dogs. 0:45 Why is this important? 0:46 There are 4.5 million dog bites reported every year in the United States, 0:51 and approximately half of those reported bites are directed at children. 0:57 The majority of dog bites occur in the home with a dog that belongs to family or friends. 1:02 Toddlers in particular can be unpredictable with dogs. They might grab lips, ears, hair or tails. 1:09 They may try to lay on top of a dog, take the dog's toy, or chase nervous dogs into small, 1:15 confined spaces. All of these interactions can test the tolerance of the most patient dogs. 1:21 The goal is to set the stage for healthy, predictable interactions between kids and dogs at 1:27 different stages of child development, let's look at a few different ways we can make that happen. 1:37 Teach Your Kids to Understand Dog Body Language. 1:42 Dogs may not speak the same language we do but they are constantly talking to us through 1:47 body language and behavior. Here's a simple way to show your kids how to "speak dog." 1:53 Sit down on the ground with a variety of food options. Choose at least 2 low value 1:59 food options. And 2 high value food items. And maybe 1 or 2 that you're not sure about. 2:06 Our dog, Beatrix, doesn't particularly enjoy leafy greens or blueberries. But 2:12 she loves meaty foods and cheese. Carrots and bananas are hit or miss. 2:16 In this exercise you are going to invite your dog to approach and 2:20 offer a piece of food. Before you begin ask yourself this question: 2:24 What would it look like if your dog said "Yes, please." OR "No, thank you. 2:30 If your dog is saying "yes please!" their ears will likely perk forward, 2:35 their eyes will be bright with happy anticipation, 2:38 and they will quickly take the food with little to no hesitation. 2:42 If your dog is saying "no, thank you", they might look or move away. They might refuse 2:48 the food OR they might take the food politely and then quietly spit it out. 2:54 You can try the same experiment with different types of toys. 2:57 If your dog is saying "yes please" to a toy you will notice their ears go forward, 3:02 their eyes will be bright, and they will offer an enthusiastic response when you offer the toy. 3:08 If your dog is saying "no, thank you" to a toy they are likely to 3:13 draw their ears back, look away or yawn. 3:16 Again, they might take a toy politely but drop the toy with little or no enthusiasm for playing. 3:25 Talk to your kids about what your dog is trying to tell you through their behavior and body language. 3:35 The same body language applies to petting. 3:39 Dog bites can happen when we decide to pet a dog, but ignore their body language. 3:43 Dogs are more likely to bite when they're not feeling well physically 3:48 or emotionally. If a dog is experiencing an upset stomach, an undiagnosed ear infection, 3:54 or if they are feeling stressed or nervous with noise or activity in the environment. 3:59 Any dog can bite. To reduce risk of dog bites and to promote healthy 4:04 relationships between kids and dogs it's important to teach kids to read, 4:08 recognize and respect what your dog is trying to communicate. 4:12 Before we jump into the next exercise, let's start off with some simple facts. 4:18 One, not all dogs want to be pet. 4:22 Two, most dogs do not like to be pet on top of their head. 4:27 Three, respect your dog's individual preferences, there's no benefit to forcing unwanted attention. 4:34 Four, your dog's preferences may change depending on the time, 4:39 time, place and person. We're the same. Sometimes we want a hug, 4:43 and sometimes we don't. We might value a hug from a trusted friend, but feel uncomfortable 4:48 being hugged by a stranger. And sometimes we just want space. Dogs are like that too. 4:55 If a dog says "no thank you" to petting - don't take it personally. 4:59 If you have a dog that enjoys petting, and seems comfortable with your kids, 5:04 try this next exercise. You can also take a mental note of this exercise and apply these concepts the 5:11 next time you or your kids meet a social dog at a family member or friend's house. 5:16 Sit down with your kids and invite your dog to approach. If your dog approaches you can gently 5:21 pet their shoulder or beneath their ear. Stop regularly and see what your dog says. 5:26 If your dog steps forward or nudges your hand they are most likely saying "yes, more petting please." 5:34 If at any point your dog backs away, licks their lips, pulls their ears back or tucks their tail, 5:40 these are nervous behaviors. 5:44 Teach your kids that this is your dog's way of saying "no, thank you." 5:48 The same would hold true if they showed any hesitation or reluctance to approach in 5:52 the first place. It's ok for your dog to opt out. This is your cue to move on to a new activity. 5:59 In fact, this is a great opportunity to explore shared activities that can help kids and dogs 6:05 develop stronger bonds and establish a solid platform for two way communication and trust. 6:17 Reading to Your Dog. 6:19 Set up a reading space where you can sit with your kids and read stories to your dog. 6:24 Older kids can practice their reading skills by reading familiar books. This is a great 6:29 calming activity for young or excitable dogs, and it's a great trust building 6:33 exercise for nervous dogs. Encouraging this activity can also help kids develop 6:39 a more positive attitude towards reading. In the end, it's a win-win for everyone. 6:48 Search Games. 6:50 Have your dog wait on a training mat or platform while your kid hides a high value piece of food. 6:57 It's important to pick something that your dog loves. Once the item is hidden you can have 7:02 your kid walk back to your dog and say "Find it." Then encourage your dog to find the hidden item. 7:12 You can play a similar game with one of your dog's favorite toys. 7:16 Beatrix loves search games that involve her blue dumbbell. If your dog doesn't have a solid "wait" 7:22 or "stay" you can keep your dog on a harness and leash instead. Start with easy finds and 7:30 gradually build up in level of difficulty as your dog shows you they understand the game. 7:46 Next, want to show you different games that are well suited to different age groups. 7:52 A four year old will need games with simple rule structures that focus on easy to understand 7:57 concepts. As kids grow they will be able to practice games with multiple steps and 8:02 advancing mechanical skills. You might even find that these games will improve your dog's 8:07 ability to walk on a loose leash, or teach your dog to be more reliable at 8:12 coming when called. I'm a big fan of fun training games with real world carry over. 8:17 But before we go any further I do want to take a minute to acknowledge that these 8:22 videos are brought to you by viewers like you. Thank you for your support. 8:27 My goal with this channel is to demonstrate the power of positive reinforcement in behavioral training. 8:33 Behavioral training for anxiety, reactivity, hyperactivity or aggression is most effective 8:39 when we establish training that fosters a calm connection, and focuses on systematically 8:44 guiding dogs through situations that may otherwise generate stress or over-arousal. 8:49 These training videos are made possible with your contributions, so thank you. 8:54 If you enjoy these videos and want to ensure more videos are produced you can contribute on Ko-Fi. 9:00 To contribute, you can scan the QR code with the camera app on your smart phone, 9:04 or click on the link in the desctiption. 9:07 In addition to these videos I also teach online classes that are specifically designed for dogs 9:12 that exhibit anxious, hyperactive, reactive or aggressive behavior. The training exercises taught 9:19 in these classes improve a dog's ability to cope with stressful or over-stimulating events, 9:25 like guests entering your home or seeing other dogs on leash. And they teach owners the best way to 9:30 guide their dog through the behavior modification process. If you are interested in learning more, 9:36 you can go to the link in the description. I would love to have you in class! 9:40 Now back to our video! 9:47 Positive Training. 9:49 Kids love the idea of training with dogs. And it's easy to understand why. 9:54 As one of my kids once said "it's like we speak the same language!" And this truly 9:59 is the best part of training - the more you do, the closer you become, 10:03 especially if you are implementing positive reinforcement based methods. That being said, 10:09 it's important that adults spend the time training with dogs first. Once the training 10:14 is well rehearsed it can then be generalized with kids with a much higher level of success. 10:19 One of the biggest challenges when it comes to teaching kids how to train with a dog is 10:24 that they are quick and erratic in their movements. This is especially pronounced 10:29 if kids are nervous about a dog taking food from their hand. It's important to respect each 10:35 individual's comfort level and find an exercise that meets everyone's needs and abilities. 10:41 Young kids, ages 3 to 5 will love this training game. I call it "Hopping Lily Pads." Show your 10:48 little one how to deliver treats one at a time on a Lily Pad. These are actually called Poly Spots 10:54 that are commonly used for kids in athletic programs. Have your kid deliver 3-5 treats 11:00 at each Poly Spot. Then call out a new color and have your kid move to the next spot. The reason 11:06 this game is so helpful is because it teaches kids to invite dogs to approach them, instead 11:12 of advancing on their space. Interactions should always be posed as an invitation, never forced. 11:20 Delivering treats to a spot will also promote confidence in kids that might be nervous about 11:25 delivering treats directly to a dog's mouth. This is also a great idea for dogs that might 11:31 be uncertain or "grabby" when taking treats. The Poly Spots create a physical target that 11:37 will make the rules of the training easier to understand. A parent or guardian should 11:43 actively supervise these interactions so that they can offer guidance as necessary. 11:50 Older or more confident kids, ages 6 and above may do better with moving exercises. Set the Poly 11:57 Spots in a line about 2-3 feet from a fenceline or wall. The Poly Spots should be spaced out at 12:04 4 foot intervals. Your kid can walk from Poly Spot to Poly Spot, stopping at each one. Once 12:10 your kid stops, your dog will likely stop also. Have your kid deliver food to your dog when they stop. 12:16 It doesn't matter if your dog is standing or sitting, as long as your dog has four paws 12:21 on the ground. This exercise encourages calm, indirect body language and will improve trust 12:28 and communication between dogs and kids. You may also find that this exercise can carry over to 12:34 a better connection and synchronization of movement when out for walks or on a hike. 12:39 Another fun game is to show your dog a favorite treat, and then hide. This is a variation of the 12:46 search game we talked about earlier. Be careful not to do this with kids that are nervous with 12:51 dogs, or dogs that are nervous with kids. Some kids might find it scary to have a dog dashing 12:57 in their direction. And dogs might become scared if kids unexpectedly jump out from a hiding spot. 13:10 Relaxation Stations. 13:13 Toddlers and young children should be actively supervised whenever they interact. Make sure 13:19 that your dog has access to safe spaces where they can relax without the constant worry of 13:24 kids interrupting their naps or forcing unwanted petting. Sit down and talk to your kids about 13:30 what it means to give a dog space when napping or resting. Baby gates can provide peace of mind when 13:36 you are on a phone call, preparing food or if you are unable to actively supervise for any reason. 13:42 There are 4.5 million dog bites reported in the United States every year, half of those 13:49 bites are directed at kids. Those bites are predictable and preventable. We can make this 13:54 better, so if you find the information in this video helpful, please share it. 13:59 Teach your kids to be more aware of what your dog is telling them through body language and behavior, 14:04 and encourage others to do the same. Harmonious interactions between kids and dogs is all about 14:11 planting seeds of respect and kindness early on. It takes time, patience and understanding, 14:17 but there is nothing more beautiful than watching those relationships flourish. 14:22 If you liked this video and you want to learn more 14:24 about positive and effective methods to address behavioral issues in dogs, 14:29 check out these playlists. These playlists provide insights into behavior modification 14:34 training for dogs that exhibit anxious, reactive, hyperactive or aggressive behavior. 14:41 Thanks for watching.