Smooth introductions are key in pet care, especially if children are in the picture. As excited as kids may be to meet their new dog or cat, they have to be taught that their pet is not the same as a stuffed toy to squeeze tightly as they please.

Most kids are a ball of energy, moving quickly and unpredictably. Sometimes their actions can stress out or hurt their four-legged friend, which might lead them to feel the need to retaliate by biting or growling.

The initial interactions between pets and children, therefore, need to be carefully managed and supervised to ensure everyone’s safety. Introductions can be very good if you prepare your children well beforehand and introduce the new pet carefully.

Prepare Your Children for the Meeting

Most toddlers and young kids are clueless about proper pet care at first, so you will need to teach and guide them. Before you introduce the newest addition to your family, do your homework by reading articles about the type of pet—whatever it may be—and seek advice from veterinarians, other pet owners and experts at pet supply stores. Share the important tidbits with your kids.

Check out your favorite bookstore or a local library for children’s books about pet care. Read the books with your kids so that you can share your insights about the new pet and answer any questions that may come up.

Most importantly, set very clear ground rules. Explain to your children how their actions could seem threatening to a new pet, and may even harm him. Here are some essential pet care no-no’s:

Don’t pull or tug the tail, ear, fur or any part of the pet’s body. Show toddlers how to gently pet a dog or cat and let them practice on their own head or arm or a stuffed toy.
Don’t jump on, or wrestle with, the pet from behind, and avoid squeezing tightly, too, in general.
Don’t bother the pet while they’re sleeping, using the litter box or eating.
Don’t tease, pester or scream at the pet. High-pitched sounds can scare puppies. Remind your children to use a soft voice when they talk to, or call out to, their pet.
Don’t rush up to them from behind.
Don’t play with the pet without asking for permission from you first. Remember that all interactions between kids and pets should be supervised.

Introduce Your Children Slowly and Carefully

All set? Then you can move forward with the meet-and-greet. To make sure things start off on the right track, keep these ideas in mind:

Take it slow and easy. Don’t rush into introductions right after you let your pet out of their carrier and, no matter how excited they are, ask your children to stand by quietly for a while.
Allow your pet to go around and explore the room for a few minutes. Your home is new to them, so he or she will need to feel right away that they are in a safe and comfortable environment.
Ask the children to enter the room, one at a time, and then sit quietly on the floor.
Let the cat or dog approach them—and let them leave freely. Yes, give your pet control over the interaction. If you force him or her into coming near one of the children, he or she might end up avoiding that child the next day.
If your new pet isn’t approaching any of the children, have the kids offer the dog or cat a treat. Remind them that treats must be tossed gently—not thrown—to the pet.
You can also have your child hold out a toy to lure the pet. It’s best if the toy is on a string or hanging from a stick as the two of them play.
With reluctant dogs, ignoring them might also help. Invite your children to play a game where they pretend not to see the dog. Chances are this will intrigue your pooch enough that he or she will approach the kids on their own.
If the meet-and-greet drives your cat to hide under a chair, don’t worry. That’s a normal reaction for cats. Just leave him or her alone and they’ll come out eventually.

From the moment you bring a new dog or cat home, treat him or her as a member of the family, and give them the space and time they need to get comfortable. Let them become acquainted at their own pace and in a setting that won’t stress them out. Supervise your kids throughout the introduction, and remember that pet care is a lifelong commitment on all your parts.

Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Sykesville Veterinary Clinic and a clickable link back to this page.