How to desensitize a dog to public places?
It is our job to work with them, to show them that what they may perceive as scary or a threat is, i Read More
How do I stop my dog reacting to children?
Sean Dare
2025-07-12 11:34:20
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: 17
To stop your dog reacting to children, ensure safety by assessing the safety of both your children and your dog. If you have noticed your dog to be reactive towards children, then take precautions to avoid any possible incidents. Make sure that the dog is securely separated from the children until the issue has been addressed.
You can modify your dog's behavior through positive reinforcement training by rewarding desired behaviors. To reinforce calm and appropriate behavior around kids, use treats, praise, and rewards.
Using counter-conditioning, you will be able to change your dog's emotional response towards children by associating their presence with positive experiences. Begin at a distance that your dog remains calm in, and gradually decrease the distance over time.
Expose your reactive dog to kids in a controlled environment through desensitization. This will allow him to become accustomed to their presence without feeling overwhelmed by it. You should always keep your dog's comfort and well-being in mind when engaging with your kids.
It is also important to teach children the importance of being respectful of dogs and how to behave in their presence. Explain clearly how to interact gently and calmly with the dog. Always supervise children and dogs when they are together, making sure that both parties are comfortable and safe.
It is important to keep in mind that addressing reactiveness in dogs takes time and patience. Always start slowly and give your dog time to learn. If needed, seek the help of a professional trainer to ensure success. Finally, remember to stay calm and patient during the process.
Sheila Cummings
2025-07-10 05:40:34
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: 18
If you notice that your dog is signaling that he’s uncomfortable in an encounter involving children, the safest bet is to manage the situation and remove him. Prevent children from running up to your dog to say hello, and always maintain a safety buffer when around kids in public. You can begin to change your dog’s perception of kids with basic training that makes a connection between them and something your dog loves, like dog treats. Any time your dog spots a child in the distance, give him high-value dog treats for as long as the child is visible. Once the child is gone, stop giving the goodies. In time, your dog will see children and immediately look to you to collect the treat, which means that he’s started to associate something that usually makes him uncomfortable (kids) with something wonderful (treats). Helping your dog feel more comfortable around children is a big job. If you’re concerned about the intensity of your dog’s reactions, the safest route is working with a positive-reinforcement dog trainer who can create a step-by-step training protocol that will help your dog learn to see the fun in little ones.
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How to desensitize dogs around kids?
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Khalid Maggio
2025-07-02 22:37:54
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: 19
When they encounter children for the first time as adult dogs, they may be extremely frightened by the unfamiliar size, smells, noises, and movements of children.
Never leave your dog unsupervised with children.
This should be the rule for all dogs but especially for a dog who's afraid of children or hasn't encountered them in the past.
Don't force your dog to make friends with a child.
Forcing your dog to stand still while a child approaches it or pets it is asking for trouble.
Desensitization is the process of gradually increasing your dog's interactions with children to make it more comfortable with them.
You can start by tossing your dog a few treats when it sees children from a distance and remains relaxed.
Very slowly over several days, weeks, or months, you can decrease the distance between your dog and children as long as no signs of stress appear, all the while handing out treats and praise.
Be Patient
These things can take a long time, and your dog may never fully accept children.
However, with patience and perseverance, you should be able to minimize your fluffy friend's fear and prevent dog bites.
Daniela Waters
2025-06-20 00:29:28
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: 22
To correct a reactive dog when her biggest trigger is children, take her on walks in a park at a distance from kids to desensitize her a little and work her way closer. Treats barely do the trick when she’s around kids. We had a training session and she was the best in her class, but the moment we left she saw a kid and she just did a 180, lunging, barking, growling. I need to know how to stop her in the moment because nothing distracts her when she’s around kids. I need her to be ok to go around everybody and be good. Anybody have any tips on things I should work on specifically.
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How to train your dog to be calm in public?
Implement a “relax” command at home. Catch your dog in a relaxed state and reward them. Introduce th Read More
How long does it take to desensitize a dog?
This process should be carried out over a gradual period of time and can take months. Keep playing t Read More
Merlin McDermott
2025-06-19 19:43:51
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: 20
If you have a dog that is scared of your child or other children, you must take the situation seriously and find ways to give your dog space from children so that he can learn to be more comfortable around the source of his fear. Be very careful when training your dog with children, and use only positive training instead of punishing your dog for showing negative behavior. Safety first, always supervise babies and young children around a dog and never leave them alone together, even for a moment. If your dog is scared of other children visiting your home, set up fail-safe management — gates, doors, physical barriers—between the children and your dog. Find a safe zone that your dog can go to where children are not allowed.
If your dog is scared of kids outside the home, keep him away from playgrounds and parks where children play. Never allow your dog to run around off-leash in or near a playground. Never allow kids to greet your dog or come into his space. Teach any kids that will be visiting your household to pay no attention to your fearful dog.
You can try to create a positive association with kids, if you have the right distance and calm children to help. Start having calm kids walk past at a safe distance, and when they pass, give your dog a high-value treat. Repeat this several times. If your dog seems nervous, move further away. Learn to read your dog’s body language and fear signals, so you know when your dog is becoming uncomfortable. If your dog shows any fear signals when around children, move your dog away immediately, without reprimanding your dog or the kids. If your dog continues to be afraid of children, seek the guidance of a positive trainer to help you with the process.