A dog can be friendly and aggressive at the same time, depending on the circumstances presented to them. Handling dogs and kids and trying to make them relate with each other well can be quite a daunting task. As a mum with pets and kids, I wish to achieve a peaceful and safe coexistence for my kids and pets. They need to have a good relationship without any bad incidents happening. It would be unfortunate to have my kids bitten by our lovely dogs.

I have been fortunate enough to achieve a peaceful coexistence between my kids and dogs. Below are some tips that came in handy for me, and I believe they can be of great help to anyone. Check them out.

1. Give the Dog Space

One thing you need to know is that dogs also need space at times. Especially if it's a strange or new dog in your house, you need to ensure that it gets as much space as possible to avoid biting at your kids.

You need to make sure your kids also understand that they aren't supposed to pounce on the dog any time they feel like it. Remember, dogs are also territorial, and they have an instinct to defend themselves. That means a dog can attack someone who pounces on it all of a sudden. Therefore, you have to be strict and make sure your kids give the dog space some time.

2. Train Your Dog

Training a dog is one of the most effective ways to ensure it lives well and behaves perfectly in your home. When I first brought my dog home, the first thing I started checking on was how I could get him trained so that he can learn how to do various stuff and play with my kids correctly.

That should also be your main aim once you bring a new pet in your home, or already have a dog at home. Make sure your dog gets the best training and gets to learn various commands and how to interact with people. You should also ensure that this training starts off at an early age, when the dog is a baby. This will ensure that it gets to know what you expect of it from an early age.

3. Learn the Four Zonal Distances of a Dog

There are four zonal distances that you need to learn about a dog. They include:

• Intimate distance – This is a zone that can only be crossed by close friends and relatives
• Social distance – Between 4 – 10 feet
• Public distance – More than 10 feet
• Personal distance – Between 1 – 4 feet

4. Learn to Say No

As a parent, it's always hard to say no to various things that your child might ask. However, you need to learn how to say no to things like when they should play with the family dog to avoid stressing it out too much. When a dog is stressed out or excited too much, it can turn and become aggressive, which might result in an attack. Therefore, this is something that you need to consider seriously.

However much your kid pleads for more time with the dog, just let them know that its not a good time and they should let the dog be. This will allow your dog ample time to relax, and avoid encounters that could turn out ugly.

5. Monitor the Kids’ and Dog’s Behavior

The other thing that you need to be crucial about is your kids' and dog's behavior. How does the dog behave around your kids? Has it been well trained to interact well with kids, or are your kids interacting correctly with your dog? These are vital things that you need to note down to help you avoid bad incidents from happening.

When you are armed with this kind of information, you will be able to make informed decisions that will help better the interactions of the kids and the dogs. You will know whether you need to caution your kids on the boundaries they have to maintain when playing with the dog, or it is the dog that you need to train further.

Conclusion

Handling kids and dogs in your home correctly is something that you need to take very seriously. We highly recommend seeking expert advice to make sure everything is done right.