While scrolling through my Facebook feed recently, I found a video with a dog and child that filled me with too many emotions. As a parent, I’m always moved by videos of children.

It seemed cute, almost beautiful on the surface: a dog doting on a child, moving a blanket to cover her like a good mother.

But the comments painted a different picture.

“Oh, a great video.”
“That dog loves that child.”
“Oh, cute.”

I was terrified. To me, those comments were oblivious to the danger I saw.

It wasn’t that I expected the dog to be aggressive. It was a German Shorthaired Pointer, which are very good, if a little exuberant, with children. In fact, I have two GSPs.

But it’s more complicated than that. And for that, I must tell you two stories.

The first tail

The first is a story I’m reminded of constantly. As a child, we had the most tolerant dog in the world. Cookie was a Cocker Spaniel. There is a picture of me holding a towel, drying her off. I am perhaps five or so, and she looks downtrodden from being soaked. I’m helping. Apparently, however, I also used to torment her by sticking my fingers in her nose.

Thankfully, she was so tolerant.

The second tail

The second story I think of is of my son, who happened to be playing on our bed with our Vizsla, Tango, nearby. Tango hadn’t been feeling well and was trying to lie in solitude. It happened so quickly — my son got close and Tango lashed out.

Of course, we don’t blame Tango. He’d been feeling ill and wanted nothing more than to be left alone.

That’s the thing. The feeling of dread I had watching the video of the dog and child is because I recognize that dogs aren’t human. It wasn’t an older brother or mother doting on the child, but an animal that lives by a different set of rules. Many close calls happen when adults misread canine signals, which is why understanding misinterpreted dog body language is foundational when children are involved.

On an escalating scale, dogs exhibit aggression by curling their lips, growling, and biting.
Without obedience training, dogs take what they want.
Dogs bite and nip for many different reasons.
Dogs can be excitable and will knock a child down.

When it comes to our Tango, his communication skills aren’t very strong. At times, he escalates from lip curling to nipping without letting others know. In that instant, we are more than thankful that all he did was scare our child with his sharp teeth, because it could have been far worse.

The children

While we can trust our children with our dogs now, until they were old enough, there was no way we could. Why? Because children:

• move fast
• put their hands where they shouldn’t
• don’t respect body bubbles
• use high-pitched sounds in excitement and fear

You don’t have to have a reactive or aggressive dog to have an incident. Many excited dogs simply don’t know how big they may be and will knock a child over. Blaming the animal for the actions of a child or a simple accident isn’t fair to the dog.

It’s not unanimous

In speaking to my staff, my concerns weren’t unanimously shared. Sure, there was concern, but outright dread? No. So what should we be looking for? What is acceptable?

For me, pretending the dog with a baby was cute was dangerous. While it may not be their fault, it’s our responsibility to ensure our family members, both two- and four-legged, are safe. For others, having the dog play with a child is acceptable under certain circumstances.

Training

Ensuring your dog follows your rules every time is important. Perfect recall. Absolute control. Want them to sit? Train them. Want them to return to their bed or get off yours? Show them.

Pro tip: Having your children participate in training for commands like “sit” and “off” helps build leadership and reduces excitement. Reliable recall and impulse control are shaped by daily systems, not just drills, as outlined in improving recall beyond training.

Desensitization

Desensitize dogs to normal handling so they tolerate ears, feet, and brief restraint—useful around kids, groomers, and quick greetings.

Discipline the children

Teach kids not to pull ears, sit on pets, or crowd resting dogs. Reduce risk through rules and supervision.

Learn their body language

Read ears, eyes, body, and tail. Lip curls and freezing are warnings—not smiles. The Ontario SPCA provides guidance on recognizing stress and warning signs in dogs, including subtle body-language cues that are often missed by adults Ontario SPCA guidance on dog body language and warning signs.

Get what you want

Choose breeds and individuals that fit family life. Don’t rush the decision.

Genetics

Well-bred dogs from ethical breeders aim for stable, predictable temperaments. Genetics matter, alongside training and management.

By teaching children as much as dogs, and by supervising interactions, families reduce risk and build safer, happier relationships for everyone.

Want to use up some of your dog’s unwanted energy? See the benefits of doggie daycare. Curious about our facility? Book a tour or explore our virtual tour. Just here for the cute photos? We’ve got those too.