By Shannon Emmanuel.

Dogs and children are a perfect fit. They are what fond memories are
made of and part of a joyful childhood. But sometimes tragedy does
strike. What should you do to prevent an accidental attack?

The first caution for parents is to NEVER leave very young children
(pre-school age - under six) left unattended with a dog. If you
trust your dog then you likely do not believe that the dog will
suddenly choose to attack. However, the dog is not much different
than a small child itself. If a dog is unintentionally harmed or
feels threatened it may bite in self-defense, just as small children
may push or scratch another child when they feel threatened. Do not
subject your dog or child to possible harm by leaving them alone to
play. Your dog is not an adult. Always supervise dogs and children
and you will be preventing a problem from occurring.

Discourage your children from hugging and kissing their dog as most
bites to the face happen this way.

Regardless of the age of your children you should discourage
roughhousing with the dog. Some of the larger breeds can generally
handle rougher play, such as Newfoundlands and Boxers, without
becoming agitated. Other large breeds may become irritated by ear
pulling, grabbing and other play and accidentally harm your child.
Large breeds may even knock over a small child unintentionally.

On the other hand, smaller breeds sometimes hurt children because
they feel threatened by overly affectionate mauling or fear being
stepped on. In these cases they may bite or scratch in an effort to
protect themselves from harm. It is recommended that roughhousing
should be discouraged with all breeds.

You should seriously consider fully training any dog you choose as a
family pet. While some trainers may feel that the owner is
adequately qualified to take on this task, you may wish to consider
having your dog professionally trained if possible.

Incorrect training can actually lead to behavior problems. Owning a
fully-trained dog will give you the peace of mind you are looking
for when selecting a pet for your children.

These are just some of the points to consider when bringing a dog
home for your children. By taking the time to understand and learn
about dogs before bringing one home, you are more likely to find the
life-long friend your children deserve!

Shannon Emmanuel is a freelance writer and the author of `How to
Select the Best Dog or Puppy for Your Children’. Find tips and
information on dogs for children at

www.best-dog-breed-for-children.com