However, not every pet loves children. And not every child likes pets. They could’ve had bad experiences, or they’re maybe a senior dog or cat that wants a quiet life.
Be honest with yourself if it’s appropriate to have pets in your home daycare. You know the temperament of your pet the best.
Below are seven tips for helping to integrate pets, especially dogs, and children successfully in a daycare setting:
1. Your pet should have an escape route and a safe place to retreat out of the kids reach.
2. NEVER leave your pet loose unsupervised with the kids. Baby gates, or high panel puppy pens for smaller dogs, are excellent management tools if you don’t want to shut a dog in another room.
3.Teach the children how to engage with pets appropriately. No teasing, rough-housing or man-handling. They should only interact if the pet is actively seeking attention, and they shouldn’t disturb them when they are sleeping or eating.
4. Understand your pet’s body language. If they have had enough, dogs may show appeasement signals like lick lipping, yawning, or avoiding eye contact. Their ears may be flat against their head, the whites of their eyes may show, and their tail could be tucked between their legs. If these signals are ignored (ideally you would have stepped in by now though), and the dog growls, never punish this. Next time the dog could leave out the warning growl and move straight to snapping or biting.
5. Make interactions positive and fun. Calm games or training tricks using food rewards can help your pet associate children with positive things, and it can be a fun way of learning for the kids too.
6. Make time for training you dog. Teaching a settle away from the table at mealtimes can help prevent begging, snatching and tummy upsets. Crate training offers your dog a positive, quiet space. Encouraging four paws on the floor can help avoid exuberant jumping up at little faces.
Keep your pet stimulated and enriched. Don’t neglect your pets needs when you are caught up in a long day of childcare. Dogs, for example, can become bored and disruptive if they are not kept entertained. Stock up on interactive treat toys and brain train games to keep them happy. Some favorites include stuffed Kong toys (for the power chewers), a snuffle mat and brain train games from the Nina Ottosson range.