I think a thread like this is over due, I am by no means an expert, so if anyone has anything else to add please feel free to do so.
- Keep dogs and children supervised when together at all times. You don't have to be a perfect parent or have eyes in the back of your head to do this. An easy way is to train the dog to follow you around the house. Simply keep some treats in your pocket, call the dog to follow you. Once you are in the next room, feed him the treat. In a few days you won't even have to call him to follow.
- Simple rules are easier for kids to understand. Instead of teaching them when they can approach the dog teach them to never approach the dog. Get them to always call the dog to come to them if they want to interact with them.
- Teach children respect and how to be gentle when they are petting the dog. If they can't do that, then don't allow close interaction until they are older. Again simple rules are easier to follow. Don't touch the dog is clearer to a young child than "Only touch the dog this way or that way etc"
- If you have a toddling/unstable child it's best to keep the dog's bed well out of the way of walkways. Think about investing in a crate or putting a bed under a table in the corner of a room. Train the dog to go there to sleep and no-where else.
- Dogs should never be bothered by a child when they're in their bed.
- High value treats and toys should kept for when the child is in bed/at nursery.
- Feed the dogs in a different room to the children. Supervise feeding or ensure the child is supervised and cannot get to the eating dog. If you think your dog has food aggression you can train for this. Add treats to his bowl while he is eating. Swap a high value treat i.e a bone for something even better, such as a raw chicken wing/leg, then give the bone back. Once the dogs food in his bowl it is his. Never take anything out of the bowl unless it is to give something better. Children should never be allowed near the bowl or a dog with a treat/bone.
- Exercise and stimulation. Make sure your dog gets enough of both, if the children don't want to come along when it's raining, well tough. You are the adult, they are the child. Make them come. It'll do them good in the end.
- Yes your child is more important than the dog but it is still okay to punish the child (time out/removal of toys/whatever you do) when or if they break the rules and torment the dog, although they really shouldn't be given the chance to break the rules because they are supervised at all time Just because your dog is a dog and your child is a child, it doesn't mean the dog does not deserve any respect.
- If you don't think you would be able to do all of the above, try getting a fish instead.