Take Your Pet Safely To Your Daily School Pick-Up

As the weather warms up your family plans include picking up the kids from school and then heading straight to the park or the beach to let the kids, as well as your pet, enjoy a well-deserved run around. However, before taking your pet to a place crowded with other people, you need to train your dog to be comfortable around hordes of children and the excitement involved with the ending of a school day.

We can not stress enough the fact that just because your dog is playful and comfortable around your children at home it doesn't necessarily mean they will be as calm and friendly when strangers are around. Your children are special and familiar; they are a part of the dog's pack. Your dog sees your children as their pack mates and treats them as such. However, unknown and excitable kids can be very unpleasant and confronting for your pet.

When you take your dog to events where there will be lots of children, such as school pick-ups, carnivals or sports days, you need to be acutely aware of your dog's reaction to the mass of screaming, laughing children running around excitedly. If you notice that your dog begins to seem anxious amidst all the excitement, starts trying to hide behind you or begins growling at passers-by, be prepared to immediately make a hasty retreat to avoid trouble.

Always keep your dog on a leash in such crowded places. Know that areas that are commonly filled with children may not be as pet-friendly as you expect them to be. Some children are frightened of dogs - especially big ones - and may start running, screaming or crying when they see you with Fido. If such a situation arises, move away to a distance and encourage the child to keep moving.

Before you start bringing your pet with you to different places, it is important that you spend some time training Fido not to jump up on anyone. Not only may jumping frighten some children, bigger dogs can actually push smaller kids down by accident. If children want to pet your dog, instruct them to do so carefully and gauge your dog's reaction. If your dog seems unhappy or uncomfortable, send the child away to prevent disasters. Always take your pet back to the vehicle as soon as you've claimed your children, and continue on to your pet-friendly family plans.

For more useful advice on handling your beloved dog in a pets allowed environment, visit Take Your Pet - your complete online resource of pet-friendly advice on the road.