Kids, Dogs, and Holiday Celebrations (Part 7)
by Andy Sands, Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant
Happy December Suncoast, and welcome back to Training Tuesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving holiday last week. In the previous blog segment, two weeks ago, we just skimmed the surface on proper introductions with children and dogs, including how children should approach a novel dog. We discussed the first steps of a proper introduction with a new dog; standing sideways, offering a treat in an open out-stretched hand, and avoiding eye contact. In addition, no patting on the head during the initial introduction, as dogs view this as extremely rude. Patricia McConnell, author of “The Other End of the Leash,” and PhD in Animal Behavior says, “You might as well urinate on the dog’s head.” Today, we will continue discussing the proper process of introductions involving children and dogs.
Body Language is Key
You’ve probably noticed by now, a lot of this has to do with our body language. Dogs understand body language very well, and they interpret it far better than we ever will. Dogs communicate using body language, and they are masters at reading ours. Even the slightest change in our body language will be noticed by our furry friends, while we won’t have a clue there even was a change. Out of all of the ways that we can communicate with our canine companions, body language is perhaps the most important one for us to be aware of. Body language is of key importance, which is why I am spending so much time emphasizing it. This brings me to another important piece of information for you to know, and to teach your children regarding introductions with dogs.
When meeting a new dog, it is imperative that you avoid bending over the dog to greet. Maintain an upright posture, and if the dog is smaller, you may have to kneel straight down. But, under no circumstances should you bend over toward the dog. A person bending over a dog can be very threatening to the dog. The dog may feel trapped, vulnerable, or cornered, making it much more likely that the he or she will react negatively. 
This is a common reason why children get bitten by dogs; even very well socialized dogs can bite if not approached appropriately. When instructing children on this approach, it typically works best to demonstrate exactly what they should do, then stand by and observe, to provide coaching to them. Most children love to learn about dogs, my girls included, and appreciate positive reinforcement when they do well. This will also help the dog feel much more comfortable, and speed up the introductions.
Combine everything learned in the last blog segment, along with today’s information, and you now have the proper steps for a successful child (or adult) to dog introduction. It will be a best practice to continually coach children on how to properly meet a new dog. Kids can get very excited when coming across a new furry friend, and may forget the proper steps involved. Repetition is key, when children or dogs are learning. Next week we will discuss how to help kids make friends with dogs beyond the introduction, and wrap up the series. I will see you right back here next week on Training Tuesday.