How to Teach Children to Respect a Dog

The relationship between a child and his dog is a special one which can foster a sense of responsibility and maturity as the child learns to take care of their pet. Yet, not all children instinctively know how to treat a dog properly. If they are a young child, they may see the dog as a toy and if they are older, they may not just not realize what activities disrespect the dog. Teaching children to respect their dog is the first step in developing a healthy relationship between them and their family pet.

Things You'll Need

  • Candies for your child
  • Dog bowls for food and water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Supervise your child with your dog as soon as the dog arrives home. Watch to see how the child treats the dog. Do not automatically assume the child will simply not harm the dog by pulling its tail or ears, hitting it or even biting it. Children as early as preschool may view the dog as a new toy they can use roughly like their other plastic toys.

    • 2

      Scold your child immediately when he takes a disrespectful action against the dog. For example, if your child pulls your dog's tail, pull your child away from the dog and tell them sternly that is not acceptable. If you verbally tell your child what is not acceptable when the dog first comes home, they may not completely understand, especially if the child is so young they have not begun to speak. However, if you are able to draw a clear line between good and bad behavior when it is occurring, the child is much more likely to remember in the future what not to do.

    • 3

      Ask your child to help you with the daily care-taking responsibilities for the pet. If the child becomes aware of the dog's needs for food, water and bathroom outings, it is more likely to associate the dog as a living creature that can feel pain when its needs are not being provided.

    • 4

      Associate respectful treatment of the dog with rewards. If your child sits next to your dog and pets him gently without pulling his ears or screaming loudly at the dog, verbally praise your child and give them a small treat to let them know their behavior was respectful.

    • 5

      Refrain from allowing your child see you disciplining the dog when it is first brought home. If the dog is not house-trained yet or has never lived with a family, you may have issues of accidents on your carpet, barking or breaking household items. For these reasons, you may be forced to discipline your dog. If your child sees this behavior coming from you without understanding fully why you are doing it, they may believe that it is acceptable. Until the child is old enough to understand why the dog is being disciplined, do not strike the dog or punish it around your child.