My dog Miko was like the cranky old man who gave out sprays with the hose on Halloween. He just didn’t like kids. If anybody under 16 even looked at him, he’d start rumbling. Okay, he didn’t like anyone or anything young. Children, puppies, kittens, he disliked them all equally.
On the other side of the coin is my girl dog Lally. She gets along with pretty much everybody, young or old. I remember one Christmas when I was living in Vermont, I spent the holiday with a friend from work. My friend’s daughter who was maybe 3 at the time was hanging on Lally, hugging her around the neck. Lally just sat there. I was so proud of her!
When you’re introducing your child to an unfamiliar pet at a friend or family member’s house, there are some things to keep in mind. It can’t hurt to explain beforehand that the doggie or kitty doesn’t like quick movements and loud noises. Show your young child the right way to pet a dog or cat – gently! And pulling tails is definitely a no-no! (Just ask JennLynn about her first encounter with a cat!)
1. The dog or cat is possibly just as nervous/scared/uncertain as your child is. Approach slowly, or better yet, wait for the animal to come to you. Crouch down with your child and let the dog or cat sniff you.
2. A lot of animals do not like having their heads touched. There are always exceptions, but don’t immediately put your hand on the top of their head.
3. Try not to make any sudden movements or loud noises.
4. If you’re meeting a dog, talk to him! I’m not sure how much cats like being baby talked, but a lot of dogs appreciate the subtleties of phrases like “Who’s a nice puppy wuppy?” and “Wook at dis big baby!”
Things are a little different if you happen to run into a dog on the street. Half of them won’t even want to look at you because they’re too busy sniffing.
Okay, one more story… a friend of mine has a cat that really doesn’t get along with her 3-year-old son. The cat (declawed) swats at the boy, but he thinks the cat is trying to give him a high five. Perspective is everything!