Children and Dogs

By fati Tuesday, October 23, 2018

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Crédits photo spangdahlem

Keeping children and dogs safe around each other is an essential element of being a dog owner.
In the first of a two-part series, we speak to three dog lovers – a headteacher, an author
and a professional dog behaviour consultant – about the challenges and joys of
living with children and dogs at each stage of their lives…

As parents, grandparents or dog owners, keeping children and pets safe around each other is
a priority, and for many people this can cause great anxiety.
Over the years, the role of dogs in our lives and the relationships we build with them
has developed: dominance theory has been debunked, and most right-thinking people
work on creating a bond and a partnership of mutual respect. Gone are the days when
dogs lived in the kitchen, or even outside, and were rarely allowed upstairs, let alone on the bed!
Similarly, schools of thought in raising children have undergone dramatic
changes. In a single generation, the advice new parents receive from health
professionals about almost every aspect of ‘bringing up baby’ is different from just 20 years ago.
Between them, former headteacher Ann Trodd, professional dog behaviour consultant Jennifer
Shryock, and author Catherine Pickles have over a century of experience to share, not only in their
professions, but also as mothers and dog owners.