Surely many parents in recent weeks have had to leave their child alone at home with a pet. Even though children have constant contact with their pets and seem to “get along” well, parents should still play a key role in this relationship. Who, if not parents, will teach their children respect for animals?

How can a parent teach a child how to treat animals? Children learn mainly through imitation. Before interacting with the outside world, young children observe and copy behaviors from their parents. It is the parents’ task to ensure they set a good example. A good idea is to show, through your own behavior, that animals also deserve respect and should be treated well. Additionally, you can point out and criticize situations (heard in the media or on the street) where someone mistreated an animal, so the child understands it is wrong. It is important to make the child aware that animals also feel pain and are no different from us in this regard. Give an example: when the child fell and felt pain – compare it to an animal being hit, which also feels pain but cannot say it. This approach teaches empathy.

Children’s curiosity drives their actions. It is natural for them to want to touch or pet a strange dog to explore the new creature. It is important to prevent situations where a child pulls a tail or sits on an animal (especially a stranger’s). Similarly, when a dog is eating or resting, make sure the child does not approach or disturb it. Just like with pain, we must teach children that dogs react differently to certain behaviors and may feel threatened, responding with aggression. We should also supervise play between the child and the dog, avoiding toy snatching and conflicts (on both sides).

We must remember not to use fear or intimidation in this teaching. Any negative experiences may affect the child later in life. Learning and leading by example are essential. A child should understand that a dog is guided by instincts and may act aggressively in a threatening situation to defend its toys or territory. The child should know that a dog is not only soft fur. A good idea is to teach the child what to do when encountering an aggressive dog: do not provoke it, avoid sudden movements, avoid prolonged eye contact. Stay still, do not wave arms or stomp.

Such “lessons” will certainly pay off in the future. It is important for children to remember that playing with a dog is not only fun, but also involves responsibilities and potential dangers resulting from improper behavior.