Pets & Young Children

This section will provide you with tips and resources, including videos, articles, infographics, referrals and external websites, to create safe and successful interactions between pets and children of all ages.

A young boy of elementary age is playing with his chihuahua pug puppy at Christmas. He has just gotten this dog as a Christmas gift, as his family adopted the animal for him. They sit in their living room on a grey couch. The dog is licking the boy's face

Parents and guardians have a huge impact on the relationship their children create and maintain with the pets around them. It’s important to create good associations between the two parties in order to build a trusting relationship centered around safety and respecting boundaries. This can be achieved through supervised interactions in managed settings where both children and pets feel confident in communicating and obtaining their needs.

Classes for Pets and Children

Did you know we have certified Family Paws Parent Educators on our training team? To set your pets and kids up for success, we've compiled a number of helpful resources for families with young children and also offer a monthly virtual Dogs & Storks class through Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for expectant parents. And for parents with young children, we offer a virtual Dogs & Toddlers class through San Diego Humane Society.