We all love our fur babies, and many of us treat them as part of the family. From dressing them in matching outfits to sharing strollers with our babies, our pets are often involved in our daily lives. But while we adore them, there's a fine line between love and trust, especially when it comes to their interaction with young children.
Pediatrician Dr. Sami, known for her TikTok presence as Pedi Pals, recently shared a crucial warning for parents: “You can never be too careful around dogs,” even when they seem gentle and beloved. In a TikTok video, she explained how she kept her children separate from their dogs when they were young, emphasizing that kids need to be old enough to understand boundaries, like not approaching dogs while eating or knowing when they’re agitated.
While Dr. Sami’s own dogs had never shown aggression, she highlighted the unpredictability of their instincts, which could kick in unexpectedly. This led her to always use partitions to separate her dogs from her kids and their friends, especially during visits. She advises other parents to do the same.
“I know you trust your pets, but never trust your pet,” Dr. Sami says, cuddling an adorable puppy named Daisy. She cautioned that social media videos showing dogs and babies cuddling peacefully don’t always reflect reality.
Dr. Sami also mentioned that most dog bites she’s seen in her pediatric practice come from family dogs—dogs that parents thought would never bite. “It’s so common,” she said, stressing that most dog bites occur in familiar settings, often targeting the face rather than extremities.
Parents and other doctors in the comments agreed with Dr. Sami’s perspective. One parent shared, “My son is two, and I JUST started letting him walk around the dog under very careful supervision because he now understands the dog’s boundaries. But I never trust ANY dog or ANY toddler!” Another said, “People always wonder why I’m so cautious with my sweet dog—it’s because she’s still a DOG, and toddlers are crazy!”
Dr. Sami’s views are supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which advises never leaving dogs and children alone together. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also stresses that any dog—big or small—can bite, regardless of its temperament, and that children are the most common victims of dog bites.
For dog bite prevention, the AVMA recommends:
- Teaching children how to respect animals, including avoiding teasing or pulling ears and tails.
- Creating separate zones in the home for pets and children, ensuring supervised interactions.
- Always supervising children when they’re interacting with pets.
- Never assuming that a dog will always behave the same way, even if it’s been friendly in the past.
In short, while we can love our pets, it’s essential to remember that caution is key when it comes to their interactions with children.