Being a big dog in a littleâŻdogâsâŻbody has its benefits according to Vinnie and his other short buddyâs, they look ageless! Even when they are seventy-five in dog years (thatâs ten to you and me) everyone looks at them and sees a cute puppy. As someone who regularly spends time with Vinnie, I have seen first-hand that this misunderstanding can sometimes cause confusion when we meet children out and about, they come bounding up to the âcute puppyâ looking for cuddles, we get that some dogs are hard to resist.
However, this can be frightening for Vinnie and his friends and they may not react as you might expect them to, after all, we all have a bad day now and again.âŻâŻFrom our furry friendsâ point of view, they donât allâŻunderstand a childâs energy or actions. There are many reasons for this they may live in a home with a pretty standardâŻadult routine, they may be nervous, some are territorial and, well, some are just plain shy and don’t like being handled by strangers. Likewise, no matter how friendly your dog is, some kids aren’t confident around animals, some are scared, and others are too rough, so it takes effort on both sides to get to know each other properly.âŻ

To ensure smooth sailing on all sides itâs important to speak with parents and explain how to approach your pet or let them know that it is not appropriate if that is the case.
The bond between a pet and a child is a wonderful thing to seeâŻas we have witnessed it first-hand with many of our friends. However,âŻintroducing your pets to children and vice versa takes thought, care and work on all sides.
We would like to share some doggy doâs and donâts as recommended by *The Kennel Club:
- Donât play rough and aggressive games with your puppy as this can encourage aggressive behaviour later on
- Donât play fight with each other or taunt a puppy to make it protective or jealous
- Donât make face to face contact as most puppies dislike it unless they have instigated this themselves
- Donât let children ambush or force themselves on a puppy, a puppy should want to play not be forced
- Children must be over 10 years old to be legally responsible for a dog outside their home
- Children should always learn to ask a dog owners permission before petting their dog
Living with dogs enriches childrenâs lives. Taking care of a dog is an excellent way of teaching a child to take responsibility, express empathy and have some fun. Dogs can also significantly help to raise self-esteem. It is the responsibly of adults and parents to ensure that these valuable child/dog relationships are nurtured so that each understands the other.
By Lorraine Byrne