How to Keep Your Senior Dog Safe Around Young Kids

Co-authored by Jessica Char

Last Updated: June 6, 2025 References

• Understanding Your Dog’s Needs
|
• Educating and Supervising Kids
|
• Determining Your Dog’s Temperament
|
• Expert Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Senior dogs make excellent companions. When it comes to children and senior dogs, however, a little extra precaution may be needed. Many senior dogs have special needs—such as sensitivity to noise or joint pain—that can make it difficult or dangerous to play with kids. By understanding your dog’s needs, educating and supervising children, and considering your dog’s individual temperament, you can ensure that both your senior dog and the children it comes into contact with have fun and stay safe.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Understanding Your Dog’s Needs

1. 
   1
   Take your dog to the vet regularly. Health issues like arthritis and sore teeth can make an older dog short-tempered and less enthused to be around young kids. Taking your dog in for regular check-ups can help alleviate these issues, as well as make you aware of any other, ongoing health problems, like deafness or blindness.
2. 
   2
   Keep the noise level lower. Some older dogs can be easily frightened by loud noises. This is because their hearing has become weaker with age. When playing around older dogs, encourage kids to keep the noise level low and steady.

   • You might say, "Let's use our inside voices around Rex, because loud noises make him nervous."
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3. 
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   Avoid rapid movements. Additionally, rapid movements may frighten some older dogs. This is because their eyesight is not as strong as it once was. When playing with an older dog, encourage kids to approach slowly and avoid jolting or rapid movements. Make sure the dog has seen them before they reach out to pet.

   • Rather than playing fetch, older dogs may prefer a gentle game of tug-a-war, or some gentle petting.
   • You might say, "Let's stay kind of calm around Rex. He doesn't like it when we jump around."
4. 
   4
   Hug gently. It is quite common for older dogs to experience arthritis or other forms of joint pain. As such, it is important to be gentle with them physically. Encourage kids to use a soft touch. If your dog enjoys hugs, do it gently.

   • Some dogs simply don't enjoy hugs.
   • If your dog growls, yelps, or squirms away you may need to give them some space.
5. 
   5
   Understand that growls are warnings. If your senior dog feels stressed or uncomfortable, they may growl, bark, or snap. Understand that these actions are messages: your dog is trying to communicate their fear or discomfort. When your senior dog acts out like this, understand that you may need to alter their environment in some way.

   • Begin by ensuring that noise and movement levels are steady.
   • Make sure your dog has adequate space and feels comfortable.
6. 
   6
   Give the dog a clear path to leave the room. Make sure that kids never corner the dog or make them feel like they have no way to leave. Ask kids to stand on one side so that the dog feels comfortable and can walk away when they feel ready.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Educating and Supervising Kids

1. 
   1
   Communicate with kids. Before you allow kids to interact with your senior dog, you should explain your dog's needs and set some guidelines. Explain the ways in which the kids can help you to keep them comfortable and safe.

   • Don't let your children approach the dogs, instead teach your kids to encourage the dog to come to them.
   • You might say, "Two things that really bother Rex are super loud noises and quick movements. What do you think we can do to help him stay comfortable?"
   • Show them how to touch your dog gently. You might say, "Rex has a lot of pain in his joints, so you have to be careful when you touch him. He only likes to be petted like this."
   • You might say,"Keep an eye on how Rex is feeling. If he seems unhappy or angry, or if he growls or yelps, give him some space and come let me know."
2. 
   2
   Don’t leave them unsupervised. Whenever kids are with your senior dog, be sure that at least one adult is around. Even if your senior dog has no history of misbehaving with children, it is best to keep their interactions supervised.
3. 
   3
   Enlist kids to help. One of the best ways to get kids to understand your dog’s needs is to ask for their help with special tasks. The more they get involved in improving your dog's quality of life, the greater understanding they will have of their specific needs.

   • Small kids can help make sure your dog's bed is cozy for naptime.
   • Older kids can help you build a ramp for your dog to climb stairs.
4. 
   4
   Be careful not to overdo it. Many dogs have been shown to push themselves through physical pain in order to make their owner (or other friends) happy. When it comes to senior dogs, this can lead to real physical damage. Be sure that kids do not overwork your senior dog. Consider setting a time limit on how long they can play.

   • A good rule of thumb is to limit the play time to 30-45 minutes.
   • This time limit will vary from dog to dog.
5. 
   5
   Ask kids to give the dog space when necessary. Let them know that the dog doesn’t like to be bothered when in a bed or crate, and let the dog approach the kids again when ready to play.

   • You might say, “Rex only goes in his crate when he’s really sleepy. Let’s let him rest for a little while, okay?”
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Determining Your Dog’s Temperament

1. 
   1
   Look into their history. Before you bring your senior dog around children, you should have some sense about your dog’s experience with children, and whether or not your dog likes kids. The degree to which your dog has been socialized plays a major role in how they act around children. If you have acquired your senior dog late in life, try to find out all you can about their previous owner(s) and how much time, if any, they have spent around children.

   • Speak to the shelter where you acquired your dog.
   • Talk to your vet about any history they may know.
   • If possible, speak directly to a previous owner.
2. 
   2
   Consider their breed. Certain breeds of dogs have more patience with children than others. This is true in senior dogs, as well. Beagles, Labs, Newfoundlands, and English bulldogs, for example, are known for being great with kids. Weimaraners, Rottweilers, and terriers, on the other hand, are not known for their patience. Take this into consideration when you bring your senior dog around children. Dogs with a lower tolerance for child behavior may become frustrated more easily and act out.
3. 
   3
   Pay attention for signs of stress in your dog. Anytime you bring your senior dog into a new situation, particularly one involving kids, you need to watch out for signs of stress or discomfort. Your senior dog may become frightened, feel threatened, or be in pain. This could cause them to act out or even bite. Prior to acting out or biting, your dog may:

   • Emit a low growl
   • Show their teeth
   • Perk up their ears
   • Lift their tail up, possibly wagging stiffly
   • Yawn, which is a sign of stress
   • Turn their head to one side.
   • Lick their lips
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How do you build trust between a dog and a child?

  

  Jessica Char
  Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

  Jessica Char is a Cat and Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, and the Founder of Feline Engineering and Canine Engineering. She specializes in modifying challenging pet behavior problems, such as fear and aggression, using positive reinforcement training protocols. Jessica is a Certified Fear Free Trainer, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. She is also a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Jessica received her BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

  

  Jessica Char

  Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

  Expert Answer

  I recommend that you and your kids get familiar with dog body language. Some of the behavior cues can be really subtle, like just turning the head away or trying to step back. It's important to get to know and understand the animal so that he stays comfortable and learns to trust humans.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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• Question

  How do I make my dog comfortable around kids?

  

  Jessica Char
  Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

  Jessica Char is a Cat and Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, and the Founder of Feline Engineering and Canine Engineering. She specializes in modifying challenging pet behavior problems, such as fear and aggression, using positive reinforcement training protocols. Jessica is a Certified Fear Free Trainer, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. She is also a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Jessica received her BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

  

  Jessica Char

  Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

  Expert Answer

  Make sure your children don't miss the signs that your dog doesn't want to be bothered. It's important to teach the kids to not go to the dog, but to encourage the dog to go to them. As always, remember to let your dog "say no" in some situations, as this will help him stay comfortable.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  Why does my dog growl at my daughter?

  

  Jessica Char
  Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

  Jessica Char is a Cat and Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, and the Founder of Feline Engineering and Canine Engineering. She specializes in modifying challenging pet behavior problems, such as fear and aggression, using positive reinforcement training protocols. Jessica is a Certified Fear Free Trainer, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. She is also a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Jessica received her BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

  

  Jessica Char

  Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

  Expert Answer

  The dog probably doesn't want to interact, or your kid could be doing something that bothers him. Remember to always supervise their interactions to make sure that everyone is happy in the moment.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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