Keep Toddlers and Children Safe Around Your Dogs
There are many reports in the media of children and toddlers being injured by dogs. Although they don’t mean to, and are devastated when anything bad happens to their pet, children can also hurt their dogs.
Here are some suggestions that will help keep your dog safe around the youngest members of your family.
1. Make sure children’s toys are all packed away. We all know that children can be a bit messy. They often leave their toys lying around the home. The problem with that is that dogs also like to chew things. Although it’s very annoying to have a favorite book or doll destroyed, some children’s toys can potentially be a choking hazard for dogs. There have also been many cases of dogs needing toys surgically removed from their intestines. This is very expensive surgery, and a major operation for your dog. Children’s toys can not only hurt your dog, but can also hurt your wallet! Remind your children regularly to tidy up after they’ve been playing.
2. Make sure that you supervise your child regularly around your dog. Children can love a dog too much. They can pull tails and ears, and poke fingers in eyes. They may even cuddle them a bit too tightly. Although this can hurt your dog, it’s a greater risk to your child. Your dog may snap or bite to defend himself.
Children love to pick up and carry their dogs, and this too can be a recipe for disaster. Dogs can feel very insecure when they’re in the air and may squirm and wriggle. If your child drops their dog, it can result in a broken leg, and again a costly vet bill. This is more of a problem with young children, but all children need to be encouraged to let their dog keep all four feet on the ground.
3. Teach your child that some foods are very bad for dogs. Children love feeding the family dog, and will often sneak some leftovers from their dinner under the table for their pet. Although it’s not likely that a child will share chocolate with their dog, foods such as cooked bones and extremely fatty foods are not safe for their pet. If you teach children how and when to feed their dog, and allow them to help prepare their dog’s meal, there is less chance that they will feed them inappropriate food.
Safety is important with respect to your family dog- both the safety of your children and the safety of your dog. If you use common sense, and follow these suggestions, your dog is much less likely to come to any harm.
Dog Fence DIY brings you this guest post by our staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY has a variety of pet containment systems to choose from. Be sure to check out the Innotek 5100 system for the best available price. For more dog fence information see here.
Features to Look for In Child Safety Gates
Although it is a long journey from infanthood to toddler but busy as you will be in looking after and enjoying your bundle of joy, time will pass without your realizing it. The infant who was sleeping for most of the day will start crawling and then stand up on feet. That is the time for which you must prepare for and it should be before your baby starts exploring the new world and crawling to out of bound areas. Child safety gates are an important part of childproofing your home.
Childproofing is providing a safe environment to your child for protecting against dangers that your child is not aware of. Baby safety gates are meant to prevent your little one from moving to places that are not safe like the stairs, kitchen, bathroom, or any other area you think is potentially harmful to your child.
Types of Child Safety Gates
Child safety gates are of two types and classified according to how they are mounted. The first type is the traditional heavier version that can be mounted on walls and furniture. The other is pressure gates.
Child Safety Gates: Pressure Gates
As the name suggests, these depend upon pressure to stay in place. These are easy to install and do not require any hardware. These are also generally less expensive. However, pressure child safety gates may sometimes be knocked out of place with a light punch.
Child Safety Gates: Hardware Mounted
These are sturdier and require you to mount them on a wall or furniture. You can install them in less than an hour by sinking in few screws for mounting. Considering that it is a matter of your baby’s safety it is worth the trouble.
Features to look for in Child Safety Gates
* You should take care and avoid buying safety gates that do not display ASTM/ JPMA certification. Check for the certification for the particular product that you are buying. Child safety certifications are not given to brand names but to individual products.
* Make sure that you are buying the right size. The gate may be adequately high for use now but remember that your child will be growing taller. Choose a taller model so that it provides long term safety.
* Spacing of the bars in gates are of equal importance. As a general rule the space between bars should not be more than 2.5 inches or 6 cm. This is to ensure that the child’s head does not get stuck between bars.
* Hardware mounted safety gates are designed for ease of opening but the same cannot be said about pressure child safety gates. You will have to go through the gated area often so do not depend upon having to jump over the gate.
* Accordion-style screen gates are a virtual hazard so avoid buying them even if you get them cheap or second hand.
Depending upon the brand and features child safety gates can cost you anything in the range of $75 and $100, with pressure based models cheaper by about $20/40.