Sometimes dogs can behave fearful around children due to not being properly socialised when new babies and children are brought into the home.
It is just same the same when new puppies are brought into the home with children already living there.
We have to understand that children act differently to adults and tend to talk in an excited manner. This combined with the way the children run around can be unpredictable and dogs and puppies have to learn to deal and cope with these situations.
Sometimes unpleasant things will happen to our dogs like children may pull a dogs tale or prod it a certain way. Obviously it is down to us adults to correct the children so they know right from wrong with a dog, but we also need to help our canine friends to feel at ease around children.
Dogs respond to fears and stresses differently to what we do and when they react it can be scary especially for children. If the dog if not socialised correctly with the children in the home, and the dog reaches its stress levels or becomes fearful it may lunge or growl or even bark. These are just some responses that a dog may do when feeling fearful and threatened.
Our job as responsible dog owners is to help our dog or new puppy to learn that children and babies are no threat and that they can relax around them.
To avoid problems in the future there is ways to help our dog socialise with children and new born babies.
Simple things like giving your dog attention at the same time as the kids and not being left out does help to avoid the dog becoming jealous.
If you would like to know more on this subject or you are expecting a new born baby and would like to know some quick tips on how to bring your baby into the home with a dog, feel free to check out my article on dogs with babies.