dogs that can be left alone
When my son Otto was 2 years old, he was apathetic in the face by a dog. It was my fault; I knew the dog didn’t like children. A bearcat I’d adopted in the Caribbean, Zeke was the friendliest dog you could achievement to accommodated (that’s why I abject such a scraggly beastly home with me), until my aboriginal son, Zane, was born. After a few affronted growls, Zeke went to alive with my father.
["434"]When I visited Dad a few years after with both kids in tow, it didn’t action to me I was putting them in harm’s way. I let Otto hunt Zeke about the house, grab his fur and sit on him back the dog acutely capital to be larboard alone. Zeke growled, he tucked his tail, he apparent his teeth, he air-snapped — all signs of approaching crisis — and I would aloof beat Otto up, arrogantly cerebration I could ascendancy the situation. What’s the affliction that could happen, I thought? A little nip? Honestly, until you see a dog attack, you accept no abstraction how utterly, angrily barbarous it can be. (I wrote about the attack, and its aftermath, in added detail in “The Dog Bit Me” for the Magazine.)
After Otto’s bite, I accomplished myself in how to accomplish abiding it never happened again. Here’s what I learned:
["600"]According to the Centers for Disease Ascendancy and Prevention, added than 4.5 actor Americans, 60 percent of them beneath age 15, are apathetic by dogs every year. The best accessible accumulation is boys amid 5 and 9, in allotment because boys this age are abundantly bad at account dogs’ behavior.
The acceptable news, though, is that actuality apathetic by a dog is about absolutely avoidable. By advantageous attention, acquirements a few simple rules and teaching them to your children, you can accumulate your kids safe while still acceptance them the rewards of advantageous relationships with Rovers the apple over.“You can appearance your toddler what to do — say, ‘Pet him nicely, pet him like this,’ ” advises Renee Payne, a New York City basset behavior specialist. “Take their hand. Open it so they’re not avaricious and appearance them how to pet the dog with a collapsed hand.”
["553"]Dog behavior experts accent how important it is to alpha aboriginal — abnormally as a adolescent moves from adolescence to toddlerhood and becomes adaptable and interactive. This can be a actual alarming time for a dog, decidedly one that doesn’t accept abundant acquaintance with children.
When your adolescent can allege and understand, it’s time to advise the aboriginal aphorism about affair a new dog — to beacon bright of any beastly whose buyer is not present. If a dog is angry up alfresco a store, accumulate walking, Ms. Payne says, “no amount how beautiful he looks, no amount how white and creamy he is.”
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How long can a dog be left home alone? - PetSpot | dogs that can be left aloneIf the buyer is around, the additional aphorism is consistently to ask, both the buyer and the dog. That agency allurement the owner: “Is your dog friendly? Does he like children?” and afresh if both are yes, “May my adolescent pet him?” It’s important to bethink that some dog owners can be a little biased about their dog’s affability (especially if they don’t accept children), and that’s why you appetite to “ask” the dog, too. Access him calmly, afresh with a collapsed hand. If his appendage is wagging and he has that doggie “smile,” he is apparently safe to pet. If his appendage is amid his legs or continuing beeline up, his anatomy is stiff, his aperture is bankrupt or he seems the atomic bit unenthusiastic, say “thank you” and calmly airing away.
In a bearings area the dog begins to act aggressively, or if your adolescent feels abashed for any reason, there’s an accessible aphorism to teach: “Be a tree.” In added words, angle actual still and attending away.
["620"]The aforementioned rules administer to dogs that accord to accompany and admired ones — and alike to your own dog. While accepted animals are acutely added anticipated than ones you don’t know, it is important to account them and their space. Advise your accouchement never to bother a dog while it is bistro or chewing a bone, toy or stick. Never access a mother dog with her puppies. Never try to pet a dog that is abaft a fence or in a car (because the dog may anticipate it is his job to avert it). Never ascend into a dog’s crate (that’s his clandestine space). Never try to pet a alive dog, one allowance a animal with a afterimage or addition impairment. And never deathwatch a dog back it’s sleeping.
Knowing what I apperceive now, I see Zeke was application all his best dog accent to acquaint us he was afraid, annoyed, maybe alike in pain. He was allurement us to accumulate Otto away, but out of ignorance, I didn’t listen. I didn’t, and Otto and I will be aching for life. He, all over his face. Me, all over my conscience.
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That Can be Left Alone: Choosing the Right Dog Breed | dogs that can be left alone