8 Children and Pet Safety Rules

Pets are a great addition to your family, and children and pets make great playmates. However, you need to take precautions to keep both your four-legged and two-legged family members safe. Our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team provides rules to ensure your kids and pets have a safe and enjoyable relationship.

#1: Choose the right pet for your family

Before adopting a pet or purchasing one from a breeder, spend time with them to observe and evaluate their behavior. Do they exhibit aggression toward you or other pets? In addition, introduce all your family members to the potential new four-legged friend because some pets react differently to children versus adults or men versus women. Other considerations are the pet’s size and age. Large breed dogs are often gentle, but they may not realize how big they are. If you have small children, a large, exuberant dog could accidentally injure them when trying to say hello or play. Quiet, well-trained, senior pets may be a better choice if you have babies or toddlers in your home. 

#2: Socialize your pet

Socialization is best done when pets are 3 to 14 weeks of age. This process involves introducing them to as many sights, sounds, interactions, and experiences as possible to help them adjust to new situations. Properly socialized pets are more likely to grow into well-behaved and well-adjusted adult dogs and cats. Pets who aren’t properly socialized are at increased risk for behavioral issues associated with fear and aggression, which could lead to injuries.

#3: Train your pet 

Teach your pet simple commands, such as “sit,” “stay,” “leave it,” and “come,” so they learn to listen to you. This can help defuse a potentially dangerous situation. Your pet may get carried away when playing, but if they are well-trained, a simple command from you can make them stop and sit or release what they have in their mouth, preventing an injury to your child. 

#4: Teach your child to respect your pet’s space

Pets are cute and cuddly, and many children want to hug them and squeeze them and kiss them—much to the pet’s dismay. Teach your child that pets need their own space, and their wants and needs must be respected. Ensure your child knows to approach your pet slowly first and offer their hand and to leave them alone if the pet doesn’t seem interested in cuddling or playtime. Also, ensure your child knows to never grab or pull your pet’s ears or tail. In addition, teach your child to ask for approval before approaching an unfamiliar pet. If you have a friendly pet at home, your child may think all pets enjoy attention.

#5: Schedule regular wellness visits for your pet

Pets who are sick or in pain are more likely to bite or scratch, and their irritability or aggressive behavior may be the only signs they have a medical condition. Schedule regular wellness visits for your pet so our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team can detect issues that may cause illness or pain before they become a problem. In addition, keep your pet’s vaccines and parasite prevention up to date to avoid spreading disease to your children.

#6: Teach your child to read your pet’s body language

Pets can’t speak, but they can communicate quite effectively by using their body language. Being able to interpret these signs can help prevent injuries. Pets who are nervous, fearful, or upset may respond by biting or scratching if they are approached. Teach your child what signals indicate a pet should be left alone. Examples include:

  • Dogs — Signs a dog should be left alone include growling, showing their teeth, tucking their tail, raising their hackles, avoiding eye contact, and excessively licking their lips.
  • Cats — Signs a cat should be left alone include hiding, hissing, growling, flattening their ears over their head, arching their back, and puffing their tail. Some cats can be a little difficult to read, displaying their belly one minute and attacking another. If your cat has a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality, your child may want to keep their pet sessions short and restricted to the feline’s head and face. 

#7: Ensure your child doesn’t interrupt your pet

Pets can be more dangerous at certain times and should not be interrupted. Teach your child not to interrupt your pet when they are:

  • Eating — Pets can be extremely food protective and may bite if interrupted when they are eating.
  • Sleeping — Startling a pet while they are sleeping may scare them and cause them to bite or scratch.
  • Playing with a favorite toy — If your pet has a favorite toy, they may feel possessive toward the object and may display aggression if your child tries to take it from them. 

#8: Supervise your children when playing with your pet

Even the best behaved pets can have a bad day. Always supervise your children when they play with your pet so you can intervene if the situation becomes dangerous. Use baby gates or a crate to keep your pet and child separated if you aren’t available to closely monitor them. 

Pets are extremely beneficial to a child’s development, but precautions are important to keep everyone in your family safe. To schedule your pet’s wellness exam, contact our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team so we can ensure your furry friend is ready and able to play with your child.