Dogs and Children 101: Introduction and Safety Tips for Every Family

How to Safely Introduce Dogs and Children

Bringing home a new dog is exciting, and it’s natural to want to introduce them to the whole family right away. But when it comes to dogs and children, it’s essential to proceed with care. It’s a common misconception that all dogs are automatically good with kids—but just like people, every dog is different.

When introducing dogs and children, remember that your new dog may be experiencing fear, stress, or uncertainty in their new environment. What feels like a sweet moment to a child could feel overwhelming to a dog. You’re not just introducing your child to a dog—you’re also asking the dog to feel safe and comfortable around a small, unpredictable human.

This blog offers expert guidance on how to safely and successfully introduce dogs and children, along with practical tips for long-term management and peaceful coexistence in your home.

Prepare for the introduction

Before a formal introduction occurs, take the following steps to ensure everyone is prepared for the introduction.

• Make sure the dog is relaxed. Introductions should not happen when the dog is showing signs of fear, anxiety, or stress (FAS) as they are uncomfortable and could feel provoked. Taking the dog on a walk and giving them time to decompress and get comfortable in their space is important, especially if they recently experienced a drastic change in environment (such as changing homes, being in the shelter, etc.). Monitor their body language to ensure they are relaxed and feel safe (refer to the visual guide at the end of this document). *If a dog is showing signs of FAS, do not proceed until the dog is relaxed. It may require multiple days before a direct introduction can occur.

○ Signs of FAS include: tail tucked, side/whale eye, ears pinned back, darting eye contact, general avoidant, sensitive to touch, crouched body position, tense or stuff body stance.

• Arrange the introduction to happen in a calm, relaxed, and open space. This can be indoors or outdoors, avoiding places that could be environmentally loud or congested when sudden noises or movements would startle the dog.
• Keep the dog on a leash at all times until both the dog and child are completely  comfortable with each other and relaxed. This is a safety precaution if you need to make  any adjustments or changes, the leash is available. Do not grab the dog by its collar.
• Have an additional person take part in the introduction so there is a dedicated person to  individually supervise the dog and child. Be sure that they meet the dog beforehand, so  the main focus can be the interaction with the child.
• Have high-value treats on hand to establish a positive association so the dog learns  “children = yummy treats!”.
• Remove any high-value toys (both dog and child toys) to prevent resource guarding or  accidently nipping from playfulness.

Introducing Dogs and Children

When it’s time for the first meeting, make sure the environment, the dog, and the people involved are fully prepared. Introducing dogs and children requires careful supervision and clear boundaries to ensure everyone feels safe. Always keep a close eye on body language—if the dog shows any signs of stress, fear, or discomfort, stop the interaction immediately. Dogs and children should be calmly separated, and you can reassess later whether another introduction is appropriate. Prioritizing safety during early interactions is key to building a positive relationship between dogs and children.

1. With the dog leashed and high-value treats at the ready, bring the child nearby but  allowing them to touch or reach towards the dog. Check the dog’s body language, and  offer treats and verbal praise.
2. As the dog demonstrates calm and relaxed body language, they can approach and sniff  the child first. Do not have the child reach out their hand to avoid any startles to the dog.  Reward with treats and verbal praise.
3. If the dog seems nervous at this step, take a few steps away and walk around with the dog to create distance from the child. You can give treats or ask for training commands to help them feel comfortable and repeat this step.
4. If the dog continues to be relaxed, you can feed treats as the child gently pets the back  of the dog. Avoid any handling or reaching towards the head, ears, neck, or tail as those  areas can be sensitive. After a few seconds, take a break (walk around, feed more  treats) with the dog and repeat this step.
5. Continue to repeat step 3 as the dog and child get more comfortable around each other.  Reward the dog for any calm behaviors around the child and continue to take frequent  breaks to avoid any pressure or stress.

Recommendations for safe coexistence between dogs and children

After a successful introduction, it is easy to quickly remove all precautions and allow the dog  and child to have free, unmediated access to each other. However, precautions should continue  to be in place for a few weeks as the dog continues to get settled and relaxed in the home.

• Teach the “Neck Down Rule”. Dogs should only be handled from the neck down;  avoiding the head, ears, neck/scruff, and tail. Dogs can be stressed or annoyed when  their faces are handled, or have sensitive ears and do not want to be touched.

○ Teach children to be respectful of a dog’s personal space. Never allow kids to  run up to dogs, hit, or jump on them as that can prompt a reaction from the  dog.

• Let sleeping dogs lie. Not all bites or nips are intentional, but can be provoked by a  startle-response. When a dog is sleeping and resting, make sure children know not to  disturb them to avoid any accidents. If a dog cannot sleep uninterrupted, crating them  can be another solution to ensure that the dog can sleep without being disturbed or  startled. If a dog needs to be woken up, gently talk to them versus physically touching  them to limit any startled response.
• Dogs will commonly meet the energy level of the people they are around. If kids are  getting too rowdy, the dog could escalate to meet their energy level and get overly  physical and cause an accident, even if it’s unintentional. Always supervise any  interaction between dogs and kids and separate them if one is getting too rough  with the other.
• Be respectful of dogs as individual beings. Each dog is different, some thrive with  constant interaction while others shy away. When kids do not understand a dog’s  boundaries, be an advocate for your dog and ensure they are always in a safe  environment.

Final Thoughts for Happy Homes

At Cincinnati Animal CARE, we take pride in matching families with the right pet for their home—including helping you find a dog that’s a good fit for a household with children. But even with the best match, dogs and children are individuals with their own personalities, needs, and comfort levels. That’s why thoughtful planning, clear communication, and mutual respect are essential from the very beginning.

We believe that successful introductions don’t just happen—they’re built through preparation, patience, and compassion. While no one can predict every behavior in every situation, having a plan in place and the right knowledge on hand gives everyone—especially your new dog and your kids—the best chance at a safe, happy start together.

If you’re looking to bring a new dog into your family, you might consider looking at our current adoptable dogs listed as living in foster homes. Email [email protected] for advice on who would be a good match for your home!