Teaching kids how to communicate with pets is vital to everyone’s happiness. Understanding animal-talk requires teaching. Dogs and cats make all sorts of different sounds in different situations: barks, meows, whimpers, whines, purrs. And their body language says a lot, too. It’s hard for young kids to understand exactly what their pet is “telling” them.
Whether you’re teaching your own kids, or others who interact with your pet often, here’s what to cover when teaching children about pet communication.
Dogs and cats express themselves differently than humans
It can be frustrating for a little one to understand what a dog or cat is telling them! Not all animals give the same signals. Reviewing common behaviors will help your kids be better prepared around pets.
Go through this list with your child, or with others you teach or interact with. You can even point these behaviors out as you see them happening with your pet.
- Tail wagging - if a dog has a relaxed body and is swinging their tail loosely, they can be sharing their happiness. But a stiff wag and rigid body can signal frustration, overstimulation, or anxiety.
- Erect tail
- Barking
- Howling
- Panting
Teach your kids the unique signs their own pet uses
Kids need to understand the unique or specific gestures your own pet uses, what they mean and what the child should do (or not) if they see it.
Educate kids in on your own pet’s cues
Everyone in the house should be on the same page when it comes to using verbal cues to ask their pet for certain behaviors. If one person asks for a “down” and another says “no” when your pet jumps up, the animal will certainly be confused. Commands help kids develop a healthy bond with your dog.
Explain the rules for pet play
Kids can get confused about pet body language, given their own limited experience with animals. Let them know that a cat hiding under the bed doesn’t want to play Hide-n-Seek. A dog wagging its tail doesn’t want it grabbed, and wagging tails don’t always mean happy dogs. And most pets don’t like being hugged close to your child’s face – even though kids are taught this is a gesture of care with other people.
Make sure your child knows how to play appropriately. Scaring, yelling, shouting are no-nos. You want kids to be calm, quiet, using inside voices, and peaceful. You may even need to outright ban some things such as poking, and pulling.
With a little caring guidance, your pet will learn to trust, respect and love your child.
