Before you tell a child to hug a strange dog or a newly adopted adult dog remember that typically a dog has no idea why a child might be approaching or disturbing him. Children hug with their faces first and generally are not strong enough to properly support a dog while hugging or holding them. The child doesn’t know any better, so it is up to you to set everyone up for success. Here are a few tips:
Teach your child how to walk the dog with you
Teach them the command “gentle touch”
Show them how to support the dog on his or her lap
Do not have them pick up the dog without an adult present
Teach your child how to respect the dog’s space and to keep his or her face away from the dog’s mouth
Teach your child that the dog is entitled to personal space as well (although we know that the dog is trained to respect the child’s space first)
Teach your dog that all humans are above all dogs at all times
Be consistent and constantly remind them how to treat the dog with respect
