What Finally Made My Dog Kid friendly – 6 Easy Steps

Getting a dog home can be one of the happiest moments for any family. Their unconditional love has the power to wash away all your stress, right?

But what if your kids’ unpredictable moves scare your pup? That can lead to barking, biting, or fear-based behavior. Suddenly, all the fun and excitement can turn into tension.

The truth is, dogs aren’t naturally kid-friendly – they need to be trained for it.

So, as a pet parent, it’s your responsibility to understand kid-friendly dog training. And the good thing is, it only takes a few simple steps.

Let’s break them down in 6 easy steps.

Key Benefits of Raising a Kid-Friendly Dog

Here are 3 major benefits of welcoming a pup that loves your kid.

Firstly, dogs give great emotional support to children. Just imagine your kid is feeling lonely, anxious about school, or just needs a friend, and no one is there. That’s where your dogs will be to lend a paw. Research shows that spending just a little time with dogs can calm children and lower their stress.

Secondly, caring for a dog, like feeding, brushing, or walking, teaches kids about responsibility and builds maturity. So, it’s a great way to help them grow.

Best of all, a calm, loving dog brings the whole family closer together. Everyone gets involved, and family life runs as smooth as butter.

6 Simple Steps for a Kid-Friendly Dog Training

Let’s discuss the steps to help your dog become every kid’s best friend.

1. Start with the basic commands

Since dogs are not naturally trained, they need your commands. That’s why teaching basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “down” is the first step to create their friendly behavior.

These dog obedience basics help you control your dog in different situations. For example, if your dog is getting too excited, you can ask it to “sit” and calm down. It’s also important to train them not to jump on people, especially when greeting them.

Jumping can scare or hurt small children. So, if your dog jumps, ignore it and try again by walking in and out calmly. During training, use a leash or harness so you stay in control.

2. Socialize your puppy

If you have a small dog, cheers; you almost got it. Puppies learn the most between 8 to 16 weeks of age. This is the best time to help them get used to the world around them.

Here, you should slowly introduce your puppy to children of different ages. Also, let them hear kids laughing, playing, and running so they get used to that kind of energy.

But always make these moments positive with treats and praise.

Senior pets can still learn to be social, but it takes more time. A key point is to keep senior dogs away from very young or noisy children, as their sudden movements and loud sounds may scare the dog.

(You can also read our article 8 Vet-Approved Ways to Boost Your Senior Pets’ Health)

3. Help your pup discover what kids play with

Dogs and children often share play spaces. But kids’ toys are very different from dog toys. They might make high-pitched sounds, move quickly, or have bright, flashing lights. All of which can confuse or overstimulate a dog.

So, if they chase or bite a toy a child is holding or playing with, it could accidentally hurt the child, even if the dog didn’t mean to.

To avoid this, introduce your dog to these toys when children are not present. Let the dog explore calmly. If the dog shows too much interest, use simple commands like “leave it” or “stay.” Then, redirect the dog to their own toy.

In a nutshell, dog toy vs. child toy training helps your pups learn what is okay to chew and play with, and what is off-limits.

4. Put yourself in the kids’ shoes

For the most effective kid-friendly dog training, you should pretend to act like a child during training. Try walking fast, making playful noises, or moving your arms around. But do this in a safe, controlled space like your home or yard.

If your tail-wagging friend stays calm, reward them with praise. Once they’re comfortable, slowly expose them to real children’s behavior, like at a park. But keep your distance at first.

This step teaches your dog how to stay relaxed around energetic kids. And finally, it makes future interactions much safer for both dog and child.

5. Crate train your dog

A crate gives them a safe place to rest or calm down when the house gets loud or busy, especially with young children around. Dogs, like people, sometimes need space.

So, you can help them feel comfortable in the crate. For that, add a soft blanket, a toy, and give them treats when they go inside. Never use the crate as punishment. It should always feel like a safe, happy place.

When your dog learns it, they can go into the crate anytime they want a break. It prevents stress and helps keep both the child and the dog safe and calm.

6. Let dogs adjust to kids naturally

Results don’t happen overnight – it requires time and patience. Never rush the process.

Just imagine you’re holding the dog still forcefully while a child comes close. It can make the dog feel trapped and can lead to growling.

Instead, let your dog approach children on their own when they feel ready. If they come closer and stay calm, give gentle attention. This teaches that being around kids is a good and safe experience.

Over time, you can gradually decrease the distance between them as trust grows. It’s like introducing two shy people.

Train Your Kids Too, Along with Dogs

Don’t focus only on training dogs to be kid friendly – your kids need training, too. So, help your kids understand the following points:

• Don’t bother a dog when it’s eating or chewing.
• Be kind and gentle, like softly petting instead of hitting tails.
• Tail wagging, barking, growling, or body stiffness shows different moods.
• Give treats using an open hand so the dog doesn’t accidentally bite their fingers.

But unless your dog is fully comfortable with your kids, an adult must always be present.