| Shih Tzu Lhasa Apso Rescue |
| Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue |
| Little Children and Little Dogs Small kids and small dogs are not always the best combination. Why? Let's think about the life of healthy, happy, normal kids. They run, jump, skip, flap their arms, throw balls (and other things), laugh and giggle at the top of their lungs, fall down, trip, and run into things. And that's when they are happy. We won't talk about the things they do when they are mad, right! If a child trips over or falls on a 50 pound dog, they probably won't be hurt. But if a child falls or trips on a 15 pound dog, serious injury can and does happen. Even if they don't actually get hurt, they can, over time, develop a fear of the kids. They instinctively realize that this person has the potential to cause them harm. A big golden retriever knows instinctively that it probably won't get hurt and so isn't at all nervous around the kids. When dogs are afraid, they have no vocabulary to tell you and they have no hands to push someone away who is frightening them. So what does the dog do? They growl first, which is the only speech they have. And then if the person doesn't leave, the worst happens, a bite. That leads to the dog being put in the back yard, neglected, dropped off at the pound and then finally to us (if it is lucky-if not...) Here's what kids do (I know because I have three)... 1. Try to ride the dog 2. Grab the dog's tail and try to steer it like a boat rudder 3. Pull the ears straight out and play "airplane" 4. Tease the dog by snatching its favorite toy. 5. Pick the dog up by its legs, squeeze it like they do the stuffed animal 6. You can add your own if you have kids. Okay what can you do about all this? 1. Consider adopting a medium to large dog 2. Teach the child to squat down to the dogs level, Hold out the back of your hand to the dog, If the dog is calm, gently pet the top of the head once or twice,. Speak quietly and calmly-no squealing, Small kids should leave the dog on the floor-never pick it up, Never tease the dog. Make sure that friends who come over follow the same rules 3. Small kids and small dogs should never be left unattended. Parents must supervise them at all times when together 4. Parents MUST teach kids to respect the animal. They will take their cue from you. If you are serious about it, they will know and follow your instruction, But you must be totally committed to protecting the dog as the more vulnerable of the two. Back |
| Contact Us LSSTALAR P.O. Box 122 Barker, TX 122 77413-0122 General Inquiries luvmytzus@hotmail.com Application Inquires shihtzu-rescue@houston.rr.com Fax 281-754-4851 |