This may be more to do with human behaviour rather than dogs, but recently we had my uncles three young children visiting us and they've never had a pet dog before, thus they were somewhat overexcited to be able to play with my Toby!

From this experience I 'taught' these pesky kids how to get on with my dog so that they could learn to take care of him for a few days, and in the future if they ever get a pet dog of their own. First I taught them to be nice to our dog by treating him gently and not pulling on his fur or tail, this was especially important to the five year olds. Next we taught them what to feed him, when to feed him and how, making it clear that doggies don't like sweets! Thirdly we taught them about the importance of exercising a dog by taking him for walks and playing with him using suitable toys.

Does anyone have any other tips that they could share regarding children and dogs?

Sometimes it's a good idea to remind children of some of the things adults would take for granted, like washing your hands after playing and not to eat an icecream after you have let the dog like it.

I find the interaction between children and dogs fascinating. My 5 year old seems to have a natural affinity with them, if there is such a thing. Our labrador obeys him unquestioningly.

That is a very intresting point of view. I mean everyone is so much concerned about dog trainers and make so much fuss when the dog does something wrong but then no one really bothers how we treat them.
But something which I would like to add is that you should also teach children to be good to all animals; cause I have seen people taking their dog for a walk and treating the other dogs on the street like trash. After all even they have life which should not be disrespected.

I think it is good for children to learn how to look after dogs,it teaches them responsibility.My six year old and my dog are best of friends andthey both get into mischeif together.
When my children are walking down the street they want to stroke all the other dogs.I have got then into the habit of asking the owners if they can stroke their dogs because as I have explained to them not all dogs like children stroking them.

I think your absolutley right Red Setter teaching a child how to look after a dog teaches them responsibility & respect for other things.

My cousins are great with my dog they are ever so gentle & friendly, its great to watch them play.

I have a two daughters a 3 yr old and a 3 mth old. I have always made sure my 3 yr old has always been around animals and I taught her to treat them with respect and be gentle. I taught her not to tug or poke. Never to take toys or bones away from dogs, and to leave them alone while they eat. I told her NEVER to a approach a dog you don't know and not to try and pet others dogs because even though my pup is a baby I don't want anyone but friends and family touching my girl, I treat her like my kids, and I hate when people try to touch my kids! I actually smacked an old ladies hand when my first was 2 mths old she reached right down into my stroller and almost touched my baby, I smacked her hand and said "that is the rudest thing you can do, to touch a strangers baby, NEVER do it again".. She quickly walked away. But I am a very bold and blunt sometimes thats good and sometimes bad LOL.... It made for a good story! hehehehe

I have a 5 or 6 year old terrior mix. She seems to be pretty good with my 18 month old baby boy but the baby can be mean like full hair and things like that so I try and keep them seperated unless I am there to watch them but most of the time the dog and baby are not together. Do you think that this is the right thing to do?

If your child is too young to learn how to respect animals, then yes, I certainly think it's the right thing to do.
It's no more practical to expect a baby to learn to behave like an adult, than it is to expect a dog to behave like a human.

So long as when you are all together, you start to teach your baby the basics, like not to pull hair, then you are off to a good start.

Originally Posted by Dollydog

If your child is too young to learn how to respect animals, then yes, I certainly think it's the right thing to do.
It's no more practical to expect a baby to learn to behave like an adult, than it is to expect a dog to behave like a human.

So long as when you are all together, you start to teach your baby the basics, like not to pull hair, then you are off to a good start.

Thanks alot for your post I thought that I was doing the right thing by keeping them seperated but then again you never know.

We are always telling our 2-year-olds to be "gentle" with our dogs, and we take their hands and softly stroke the dogs to demonstrate the word "gentle."