Dogs and Babies

Digg   Del.icio.us   Stumble   Share

Next

Pages 

1

23

Section: Overview

The birth of a new baby is a joyous occasion, but many dog-owning couples worry how their new baby and dog will interact. Knowing all the possibilities beforehand is important to prevent accidents or injuries, to the dog as well as the child. Some people feel that it is best to keep dogs and babies apart, at least until the child is old enough to exercise self-control and gain respect from the dog. Fortunately, this extreme approach is unnecessary in the majority of cases. Whether they should be allowed to interact depends on factors relating to the dog, the child, and the environment.

Dog factors involve the temperament and mood of the dog, which depend on the dog's genetics and learned behavior. Two of the most important genetic factors are the tendency to develop dominance and the magnitude of the dog's prey drive.

Nurture. How a dog has been raised has a bearing on the way they turn out. The most important factors are early socialization, correct leadership and control.

a) The most serious problems occur when dogs genetically predisposed to high levels of dominance or predatory behavior are raised in a way that promotes their aggressive tendencies. For example, a naturally dominant dog raised by an overly indulgent owner makes dominance issues between the dog and toddlers even more likely.

b) A dog that is potentially dominant, is undersocialized, and has had unfortunate social experiences during puppyhood, is most prone to develop fear aggression. This type of aggression poses a different threat to children, particularly children unfamiliar to the dog.

c) Dogs with high prey drive that are misunderstood and mismanaged also pose a threat to children. The key to preventing problems of this nature is responsible breeding, appropriate selection of pups by would-be owners, good socialization, limit setting, and proper control.

Next Page

Pages 

1

23

 

Printable Version

Digg   Del.icio.us   Stumble   Share

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

 

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

 

 

Related Articles

Search Over 15,000 articles

• 1 Canine Social Structure

  Our dogs see us as members of their "pack," and it is important to learn how the culture of the pack works to maintain a healthy hierarchy.

  Read More
• 2 Introducing a New Dog Into Your Household

  Introducing a new dog to a household with another pet, whether it is a dog, cat, bird or small mammal, can be tricky. What type of new dog you choose plays a big factor. You should consider the sex, age,...

  Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens