What is a Happy Childhood with-out a dog or two to play with? Kids and dogs seem to go hand in hand, and can make a wonderful team. But there can be dangers when children and dogs interact. It is our job to teach children how to behave with dogs and to respect them. By following these 10 sensible guidelines, you can help children stay safe around dogs.

1). All Children should get permission from a strange dog’s owner before running up to pet it. Don’t let your child assume that every dog is friendly.

2). If a child sees a stray dog they should not attempt to go up to the dog, even if they know the dog. Dogs running loose can behave unpredictably, even a normally friendly dog.

3). Teach children not to scream or run away from a dog. This makes him seem like something to chase which only freightens a child more.

4). Teach children not to stare at a dog in the eyes for long periods of time. A dog may feel threatened by this and attack.

5). If a child is given permission by the owner to pet the dog, she should keep her hand closed and let the dog sniff her. This keeps fingers from possibly being bitten.

6). Parents should teach children that they shouldn’t hug dogs that belong to other people. Unfamiliar dogs can react unexpectedly to bear hugs.

7). Teach children that it is NEVER okay to hit a dog, or throw things at one.

8). Children should learn to keep their voices lowered when playing with a dog. The more excited a child gets, the more excited the dog gets. Playing can get out of hand.

9). Teach children to leave a dog alone when they are eating, sleeping, or sick.

10). It is never alright to tease a dog.

It’s important to know that dogs don’t usually view children as authority figures. They are pack animals and children are viewed as members of their pack, not the leaders of the pack, or Alpha. For this reason, a dog is not likely to obey commands given by a child. An adult should always be present when dogs and small children are playing together. If an accident were to occur, an adult can quickly step in aand seperate the dog from the child and provide help.( *Older children can learn to be viewed as Alphas to their own dog, with the right training).

Dogs and children can enjoy a very special relationship together, as long as children are taught how to behave around dogs. It’s soooooo easy to love doggies for the wonderful, sweet, and silly animals they are, as long as children learn to respect them too.

Once your children have learned all of the above, let the silliness ensue!!! xoxoxo- Lara Evans with Doggie-Smyle.

For any questions on this topic or other dog related topics, please visit us at doggiesmyle.com and send me an e-mail, or contact me at 602-526-0606.

This Summer, I found 2 lost, and dehydrated dogs wandering around the hot streets of Phoenix, AZ. Neither one of the dogs that I found (at seperate times), had dog tags around their neck. I took them both immediately to my local veterinarian’s office so that they could scan the dogs, in hopes that they had been micro-chipped. Unfortunately neither of the dogs owners had them micro-chipped. I made posters, called all the surroundings vets offices, posted on face-book etc., and a few days later, both of the dogs owners finally contacted me. One of the families had been so distraught over their missing dog, that they cancelled their family vacation to stay and search for her. If this loving family, had only micro-chipped their Australian Sheperd, they would have been contacted the same day I found her, and their family vacation would have taken place as scheduled.

Dog tags are also very important to being able to find the dogs rightful home, but sometimes they fall off or get scratched and are un-readable. If you micro-chip your dog, they have a permanent dog tag on at all times!……. (Can I please have my 2 children micro-chipped?)

Most everyone has heard of microchipping, and luckily many rescues, shelters, and breeders, automatically micro-chip their dogs & cats, before placing them in a home. Please make sure to ask when you get your pet if they have been micro-chipped. If not, simply take them to your chosen Veterinarian’s office, and have them micro-chip your new pet. The cost is around $50-$75, and most Vets will include your pet’s registration in this fee.

What exactly is a micro-chip? It is a small chip, about the size and shape of a grain of rice that is inserted between an animals shoulder blades. It is not painful for the animal (feels like a shot). It’s purpose is to provide a marker for information about your pet that can be scanned in case your dog is lost or stolen. When a pets micro-chip is scanned, it tells the person scanning the pet, the pets name, the owners name, vet, phone number, and other contact numbers to call. Micro-chips must be registered with a data-base Company, such as the AKC’s Companion Animal Recovery Service. A call to the data-base Company, from the person scanning, will allow them to contact you, or another one of your contacts, to let you know that your missing pet has been found, no matter where they have been discovered. According to the AKC Companion Animal Recovery, lost pets with micro-chips are up to 20 times more likely to be returned to their home.

Losing your pet is so stressful to you and your pet! Please micro-chip your furry family members, in order to insure peace of mind and added security that your pet can be traced back to where they belong…..at home with you:)