CHILDREN AND DOGS
Kids carry routine. Adults carry risk.
Most bites to children come from a dog the child knows, in their own home, on an ordinary day. The advice everyone gives is right — never leave them unsupervised. It is also almost impossible to follow in a house with school mornings, work calls and tired parents.
Children can carry real responsibility with a dog. They cannot carry risk, and they should never be asked to. The difference between those two things is the whole system.
What’s in it
- What an adult owns, and what is never a child’s decision
- Two roles, so two children are not giving one dog two instructions
- Reading the dog before anything goes wrong — green, yellow, red
- What children can do, and what they must never do
- Telling an adult early is part of caring for him, not getting someone in trouble
- Doorbells, deliveries, visitors — where it usually goes wrong
- When it slips, freedom comes down before anything happens
Please read. This is a family-readiness and educational resource. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary, medical, behavioural, training, or legal advice, and it does not establish any professional relationship. Always consult a qualified veterinarian or certified professional for your dog’s specific needs, and never leave young children unsupervised with a dog. Living with a dog carries inherent risks; neither the author nor the publisher assumes responsibility for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the use or misuse of the information here. Results vary from family to family and dog to dog.
THE FULL SYSTEM
Before You Say Yes to the Dog
The decision framework — read this before the puppy arrives.
About the book →
After You Say Yes to the Dog
The operating manual — for the family who already said yes.
About the book →