Compassion - Integrity - Commitment
A toddler is less likely to be intentionally injured by a cat (unless the cat was defending itself), perhaps because a domestic cat's predatory instincts are triggered by much smaller prey. Even gentle cats and dogs can be provoked by toddlers and young children. When your baby becomes a toddler, take time to reassure your pet during supervised interaction. Remain watchful and teach your child to respect your pet. More often than not, you will need to protect your pet from your child.
Tolerating Children
Information has been obtained by Anchorage Animal Hospital from sources believed to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by our sources, Anchorage Animal Hospital does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or the results obtained from the use of such information.
| Training Your Pet to Tolerate Children |
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Problems between a pet and a child begin at the toddler stage. When the baby learns to crawl and then to walk, it enters a new phase, and your pet's view of the child may change. A dog with a strong instinct to hunt small creatures may not immediately recognize this new, ground-level moving target as the same baby that days earlier was carried from place to place. Predatory behavior may be awakened in pet dogs that have never displayed any interest in hunting or any intolerance of your child. Many dogs and cats fear small children. Rather than approaching a baby, they are more likely to run away from it. Parents should be watchful when the baby begins crawling and walking. Keep your dog by your side in a "sit/stay" position while the baby moves about. Reward its controlled response with caresses and calm words of praise. |
