Dog for Child - The Child is Scared of Dog?

One woman wrote to me in a rather distressed way. She had a two-year-old child and a nine-year-old. She wanted a dog for child to bring fun and teach responsibility. So had gotten them a puppy.

The two-year-old was so frightened of the puppy, that she remained sitting on the table until the puppy was put away. The puppy was not attacking her or doing anything scary, just playing with the nine-year-old.

The woman did not know what to do. She did not want to get rid of the puppy. The nine-year-old really loved the pup. But she obviously couldn't have her two-year-old continue to sit on the table all the time.

"What should I do?" was her question.

You have to acclimate the child to the puppy. Put the child on your lap, and have the puppy in the room at a distance. If you feel the need, you may put the puppy in the cage and bring the child closer bit by bit. If you are comfortable with the puppy loose in the room, then let the puppy come close, and control the puppy's behavior. Don't coddle the child too much. Just look her in the eye and calmly say, "I've got it. Trust me."

Obviously no one should keep a dog who is hurting their child. People come first. No question. But you can't teach a child that just because he or she is scared of something, that a person can always make it go away. Because the truth is, humans can't do that.

Help the child face her fear in gradual doses, and she, too, will begin to play with the puppy.

Rena Murray