Kids & Dogs… A Dog is Not a Horse!

Have you ever seen that movie, “Homeward Bound?” You know, the one with the boy whose family goes on vacation and leaves their pets in the care of friends? The golden retriever, American bulldog, and fluffy cat love the boy so much, they head out on an “incredible journey” to find him. A heartwarming story, it’s sure to make you laugh and even shed a tear.

But, I digress. There is a point. The point is, the boy does not ride the dogs! He also doesn’t pull their tails, lie on them as pillows, or carry them around like stuffed animals. In fact, neither did Lassie’s boy, or any other story where kids and pets have a powerful bond.

It would probably not be such good media if a movie were made starring a grouchy dog who growls at kids, or snaps at the sweet little boy. However, in occasional real-life cases, those things do happen! Do those dogs simply have crabby temperaments? Problems with inbreeding, or lack of socialization? Very, very rarely.

In most cases, the dog is simply fed up! For some reason, there is an astounding population of parents who allow their children to lie all over the dog, bother him while he’s eating, and think the dog should cheerfully accept it. “If he has a good temperament, he won’t mind” is a common phrase, along with “The puppy just loves when my 2 year old rides him like a pony.”

The problem is, the child is going to get bigger. And the robust puppy who loves roughhousing today, is unlikely to enjoy such manhandling on a sweltering summer day. But by then, children’s habits have already been developed. Parents too. “Why is the dog acting so grouchy?… We have to get rid of him… We can’t have a dangerous dog around here!”

Just as parents need to prevent siblings from pulling each other’s hair or pestering one another constantly, so must the dog be protected. To develop a strong bond between dogs and kids, both must be treated gently and fairly. Yes, pets do need to tolerate “baby style” petting. No, they should not growl or snap. But as responsible adults, we need to provide for our pets’ safety and well-being too! After all, how would you like to be carried around (& accidentally dropped), squeezed, and pulled on a regular basis? You’d be growling too!