Growing up with a furry best friend can be a wonderful experience for kids. It's like having a sibling, but with a best friend who always brings happiness and joy into life.

Having a dog at home has many benefits for children, such as fostering a sense of responsibility and encouraging outdoor play. However, it's important to create a strong bond between your child and their new pet to ensure a happy and healthy relationship.

At Joyride Harness, we believe in the strong bond between a person and their dog, regardless of age. If you're considering adding a four-legged friend to your family, keep reading to learn how to raise kid-friendly dogs. This advice will set you, your child, and your future pup up for success!

Creating the Bond Between Kids and Dogs

Kids and dogs can form a beautiful friendship. As parents, it's important to guide this relationship to ensure safety and happiness. This bond teaches kids kindness and empathy, and provides dogs with love and companionship.

It's a learning process for both, requiring gentleness, understanding, patience, and tolerance. Playing with kid-friendly dogs ensures safety.

8 Tips for Raising Dogs That Are Good with Kids

Sometimes, when raising kids and dogs together, the bond is naturally there, and everyone gets along. This is more common among older children and dogs with experience around small humans. More often than not, some “training” is needed to ensure dogs are kid-friendly, and vice versa. When raising dogs and kids together, it’s important to focus on fostering a safe and respectful relationship.
Here are some tips for raising dogs that are good with kids.

1. Choose the Right Breed

Different breeds have varying temperaments and energy levels; some are better family dogs than others. Conduct thorough research to find a breed known for being child-friendly that aligns well with your family's lifestyle. Some of the most popular kid-friendly dog breeds include Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Labs, Bulldogs, and Pugs. 

2. Obedience Training

Enrolling your dog in obedience training classes can be a great start. It helps instill good manners and behaviors, making the dog more manageable and safer around kids. When you work with a trainer, they can give you specific tips on managing your dog in your household. 

3. Socialization

Early socialization is key for raising a dog that is comfortable around kids. Expose your dog to different environments, people, and other pets. This will help them become more adaptable and comfortable around children, reducing the chances of aggressive behavior.

4. Create Boundaries

Establish clear boundaries for both the dog and the child. Teach your child not to disturb the dog while eating or sleeping, and train the dog to respect the child's personal space.

5. Safe Play

Encourage safe play activities that both the child and the dog can enjoy. Avoid games that encourage rough play, potentially leading to accidents or injuries, especially if the dog is large. 

6. Supervised Interactions

Always supervise interactions between young children and dogs. This ensures that playtime remains safe and prevents any potential mishaps.

7. Safe Spaces

Create safe spaces in your home where both the child and the dog can retreat to when they need a break. This helps in preventing any potential conflicts.

8. Positive Reinforcement

Use positive reinforcement techniques to reward good behavior in your dog. This encourages them to repeat the behavior and helps build a positive relationship with the child.

Teach Your Kids on How to Interact with Dogs

Just as it’s essential to train our dogs how to behave around children, it must also teach our young ones the proper ways to interact with their furry friends. This ensures the child's safety and helps foster a respectful and loving relationship with the dog. 

Here are some things to consider: 

Understanding Dog's Body Language

Teaching children to interpret a dog's body language can be a proactive step in preventing misunderstandings or accidents. Help them recognize signs of a relaxed, friendly dog as opposed to a fearful or aggressive one. This knowledge will empower them to interact safely and respectfully with dogs.

Approaching a Dog

Educate your child on the correct way to approach a dog, especially one they are meeting for the first time. Encourage them to approach slowly and quietly, allowing the dog to come to them first. Remind them to always ask for permission from the dog's owner before petting.

Gentle and Respectful Interaction

Instill in your child the importance of gentle and respectful interaction. Teach them to avoid pulling the dog's fur, ears, or tail and to refrain from disturbing the dog while it's eating or sleeping. Encourage them to use gentle strokes when petting the dog and avoid making loud noises that might startle it.

Involving Your Child in Dog Care

Involving your child in the dog's care can be a wonderful way to foster a deeper bond between them. Assign them age-appropriate responsibilities such as filling the dog's water bowl, assisting with grooming, or helping during walk times. You can even involve them in the naming process and let them pick out the dog's collar, harness color, or even toys. Directly involving your child in the dog’s care routine helps nurture a sense of responsibility in the child and allows them to form a close and loving relationship with the dog.

Raising Dogs That Are Good With Kids with Joyride Harness

Do you remember your first dog? It's a special experience, especially when you get your first dog as a child. Growing up with a furry companion fosters a unique friendship that's filled with joy, love, and cherished moments.

At Joyride Harness, we're committed to nurturing these beautiful relationships. We believe that the bond between children and dogs is valuable and brings immense joy and learning. It's a journey that brings families closer, teaches values of empathy, responsibility, and unconditional love.

The learning journey doesn't stop at childhood. If you're a new dog owner, we've got you covered. We can help you with advice on how to raise dogs that are good with kids and what you need to know before you bring your first dog home.

Check out our blog to learn more about dog ownership, from picking the perfect harness to understanding your dog's needs. We're here to guide you every step of the way!