Should Your Child Walk Your Dog Alone?

If this is your first family dog, you may think nothing of a quick spin around the block. However, you must take into account all of the things that CAN and DO go wrong. Even (mentally and physically) fully-adult people can get pulled to the ground, or dragged over to squirrels, skateboarders, and the neighborhood cat. They helplessly watch while the dog gets their leash caught or slips the collar, or, conversely, they may make inadvertent decisions while another dog lunges towards them at full speed. They will likely discover the consequences when it s too late! This is but one example of how big the consequences for a minor can be. For kids, the consequences are only that much more substantial.

As an experienced trainer, I’m pretty conscious about where I go, and I have a knack for taking my dog’s energy into account when going for walks. Still, though, I’ve had to impulsively go after my dog and have enough hands-on past experiences of what could go wrong or be encountered. I hope by making you aware of some of the potential risks, you can make informed choices about your family dog walking experiences:

THINGS TO CONSIDER

– Size: of child and dog
– Strength of both the child and dog
– Maturity of both child and dog
– Training of both child and dog
– Temperament of both child and dog

[Image courtesy of TheFamilyDog.com]