Children and Bernese Mountain Dogs
People frequently choose a Bernese Mountain Dog because they have read or heard the breed is great with kids. Generally speaking, most Berners are gentle and nurturing; and most have the tendency to interact well with children. As a parent or owner please understand that you will need to spend time teaching children and your dog how to conduct themselves. Young children and puppies and even adult dogs should be closely supervised to avoid behaviors that could lead to injury of child, dog or both. Parents should also plan on providing guidance to children who visit their yard or home to ensure safe interactions.
Young children and Berners - Basics
All dogs have space boundaries just like people. Have you ever heard a person say, "heh, back off, you're in my space!"? Well, dogs don't talk; but they
do have other ways to express the same thought. Children and some adults may not pick up on the language a Berner speaks when trying to tell a human to back off. Teaching children how to read a dog's language and respond
appropriately to a dog's boundaries and tolerance levels is a big part of parents keeping kids safe. Berners are big dogs and could potentially frighten a child unaccustomed to interacting with dogs. Due to size, a Berner might
inadvertently knock over young children or toddlers. Berners puppies, if left to their own instincts, will often chase and nip or bite as a form of play. Teaching children how to respond to these
instinctual behaviors can be challenging. Teaching small children not to grab skin or fur, pull on legs, or tails, not to stare at or scream in the dog's face can be tough - since those kinds of behaviors are fairly common
when young children interact with a pet. Children while playing can be noisy and abrupt in their movements. A dog can get overwhelmed by the busy activity and high pitched voices of children. Some Berners are sound
sensitive and may become anxious, nervous or disinterested in children's playtime activities. Most Berners will seek private space in a quiet location if they are stressed due to sensory overload, tired or don't want to be
bothered. Owners who are not familiar with raising dogs with children are encouraged to take advantage of information available in books and on websites which provides common sense tips for parental management of dogs and children.
Book List
Living with Kids and Dogs...Without Losing Your Mind by Colleen Pelar
Raising Puppies & Kids Together: A Guide for Parents by Pia Silvani
Childproofing Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Dog for the Children in Your Life by Brian Kilcommons
The American Kennel Club website offers a terrific set of printable materials to assist parents in educating children to interact well with dogs.
Bailey the Beagle Responsible Dog Owner's Tip Sheet http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/bailey_tip_sheet.pdf
Bailey Goes Home http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/bailey_goes_home.pdf
Canine Courtesy http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/canine_courtesy.pdf
How to Greet a Dog http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/how_to_greet.pdf
Megan Meets a Mastiff http://www.akc.org/pdfs/public_education/megan_meets.pdf
Websites for parents and children
► San Francisco SPCA's "Dogs & Kids" page at http://www.sfspca.org/behavior/dogs_kids.shtml
offers a few tips on dog/kids relationships.
► The American Veterinary Medical Association's "The Blue Dog Parent Guide" and CD can be ordered at http://www.avma.org/products/children/bluedog.asp is designed to help parents and children safely interact with dogs both inside and outside the home. The material is targeted and tested for children from 3 to 6 years old.
►The "Kids and Dogs: A Common Sense Approach" article by Vicki DeGruy at http://www.canismajor.com/dog/kidsdog2.html
discusses dogs' instinctual behaviors, training and management to prevent bites, and offers information to anyone interested in dog behavior as it
relates to child safety.
► The Safety Factor Challenge at http://www2.the-kennel-club.org.uk/safe_and_sound.html is a fun interactive website that teaches children how to safely interact with dogs.
► The Kids Guide to Dog Care website at http://www.loveyourdog.com provides older children with sound advice on how to care for their dog.