The Bakersfield Voice

By: Courtesy of the ASPCA

Did you get a new family pet for Christmas? Animals can make wonderful friends for children. However, when a child is an infant or toddler, he or she is still learning how to relate to others, including animals. Here are some important things to remember when you have a young child in the home with a family pet:

• Maintain constant supervision. No infant or toddler under the age of 4 should ever be left alone with an animal. Even the most mild-mannered dog or cat is capable of aggression if provoked or when under stress. If a child screams in a dog’s ear or pulls a cat’s tail, there is no way of knowing how aroused the animal will become.

• Model respectful interactions with your pet. Treating your cat and dog with respect and love is crucial to teaching your child how to interact with your pet.

• Teach appropriate petting behavior. A young child will want to pet the dog or cat. Teach your child how to pet animals with gentle strokes. Show them how to pet with the fur, not against it. In addition, show them where the animal likes to be touched. Many animals dislike being thumped on top of their heads or are sensitive to having their hips or bellies touched. Youngsters will be particularly drawn to outstanding or unique body parts, such as a curly tail or floppy ears. If your child grabs a dog’s or cat’s tail or any other sensitive area, firmly tell your child “No” and explain simply that the animal doesn’t like that. Even if your child is too young to understand the explanation, it will help them to know that there is a reason.

• Monitor playtime. Children may come to regard the family pet as a playmate, so it is important that any play interaction is safe for both your child and pet. Do not allow any rough play, since it can get out of hand quickly. If your child tries to jump on the animal’s back, stop him or her immediately with a firm “No!” and a short explanation. If playtime becomes too overwhelming for either your child or your pet, it is important to give a time out to cool down. Redirect their behavior to an activity that is more pleasant for the animals, such as fetch or hide-the-treats.

• Stay away during mealtime. Animals can get aggressive if they feel someone is trying to take away their food. A toddler may not understand that the dog’s toy is not his or hers to share, so keep your dog’s toys separate from your child’s toys. Dogs can be very possessive of their toys, especially high-value chew toys, such as rawhides, pig’s ears or bones. If your child takes the animal’s toy, firmly say “No.” Give your dog chew toys only when your child is sleeping, or when your dog is in its crate or in a separate room.

• Keep your child away from sleeping dogs or cats. No one likes to be woken up out of a deep sleep, including your pet. If a child tries to awaken a sleeping animal, it will most likely startle the animal and can provoke aggression.

• Choose an appropriate pet. If you are looking to bring an animal into your home with a toddler or infant, it is important to choose a pet that will be safe for everyone. A puppy or kitten under 4 months is not ideal for a toddler or an infant, since would be in similar learning stages. A young puppy or kitten is learning how to interact with others, just as a toddler and an infant are. They both may overstep their boundaries. In addition, the baby teeth and claws of young animals are needle-sharp and can inadvertently do damage.

• Teach responsibility. By providing your child with small, age-appropriate tasks, such as filling the water bowl or accompanying you on a walk, children will develop the sense of responsibility that comes with having a pet.