I've heard numerous stories over the years of families having to get rid of their dogs because of dog aggression towards their child(ren). What began as a loving, gentle dog turned into a snippy, mean, and disobedient dog with the addition of children into the family. If you already have a dog and are expecting a child, some preemptive dog training will go a long way. Naturally, you will need to “train your child” how to appropriately act around the dog as well. But, the following dog training tips can save you and your family a lot of grief.

“My children love to hug our pets.”

Suffice it to say, my cats despise it, but the dogs find it quite acceptable.. As much as we tried to discourage our children's pet embracing, they found it irresistible, that's how they show love, after all. So, your best bet is to desensitize your dog to hugging. The timing is important here, you want to approach your dog when he's quiet and relaxed. You will begin by giving him brief hugs, lasting only a couple of seconds, followed by a treat. Progressively, these hugs will begin to get last longer. Remember to always praise your dog afterwards (an integral part of dog training) and always stop before the dog gets upset. If he is continually pulling away, then begin only giving him attention while simultaneously hugging him. If your dog shows any aggression, like growling, raising his lip or nipping, receiving professional dog training is recommended. Many certified dog trainers will do home dog training.

“My child is always grabbing our dog!”

Again, this is as common as the hugging. You will work to desensitize your dog to the grabbing and tugging. Pick your times, when the dog is relaxed or has sought you out for attention. While you're petting him, very gently grab some skin. Give him a treat or praise (or both) while you are still grabbing the skin. The next step will involve grabbing the skin and wiggling it around a little. Again, be very gentle and praise him. Wait until he's accepted this grabbing and wiggling, then begin doing this with a little bit more of an element of surprise. And finally, approximate how a child might grab him, with a little bit more force, and definitely faster than you would. Never, ever pinch or make this in any way painful for your dog. Treat him, praise him, and he'll begin to have positive associations.

“My dog is frightened of our children's loud voices!”

Children are loud, there's no way around it. I have three that bellow, scream, whistle, squeak, play with loud toys, and generally make unpleasant vocalizations. In fact, I've been know to wear earplugs around the house to drown out the clamor. Some dogs are more tolerant of loud noises than others, others will cower in a corner, and there are those who think they're in trouble. Before your child arrives, begin to get the dog used to a variety of sounds. Desensitize him by introducing different volumes, tones, pitches and slamming sounds.

If you have a friend with children, ask to make a recording of the children's noises. Begin by playing it with a low volume, then slowly begin increasing the volume. Do this while you're petting him, feeding him, or while he has his favorite treat or chew toy. He'll associate these sounds with things he likes.

When my kids were toddlers they would come bounding towards my dogs yelling: “Doggy! Doggy!” Actually “dog” was the first word my oldest daughter said. No surprise in my house... Get your dog used to this by first walking at a normal pace up to him and saying “dog”. Again, don't forget the vital element in dog training: praise and treat. Over time, begin saying “dog” loudly: “DOG!” When he's comfortable with the volume, begin picking up the pace as you approach him. Begin by trotting and eventually running up to him saying: “DOG!” You might even want to have your limbs flailing around a bit, just as kids do when they're excited. Again, praise and treat.

We have a lot of slamming going on in our house, much to my dismay. My children don't close doors, oh no, they SLAM them shut. We have plentiful crashes as well. They're dropping their trucks, blocks, dumping out Legos, or have been known to beat on pots and pans. Begin being noisy in your house. Slam those doors, drop books, drop silverware, run into things (don't hurt yourself or the dog, please). The point is to turn your peaceful environment into a more chaotic and noisy one. Well, YOU might as well get used to it anyway!

Finally, be more vocal when you're playing with him and loving him. Make an occasional shriek or bellow. If you make these noises while he's eating, getting love, or being played with he will make the positive associations you're seeking. Play the children's sounds recording while he's eating. You get the picture.

In the process of dog training, if you discover he is exhibiting dog aggression, please consult with a professional dog training. This process may be more than you can handle. The good news, you've discovered the problem NOW, not later and have time to work on training your dog. Dog behavior can be complex. If your dog has had a previous owner, you may be unaware of the reasons your dog is reacting like he is. Perhaps he's lived with a child you teased, and hurt him. Again, seek professional dog training if you discover your dog's behavior is erratic. I'd suggest you look into home dog training as this will best approximate what the scenario will be when the kid(s) arrive.