Mom has to really want the dog, too. It's important to neuter or spay the new pet. Besides reducing the unwanted dog population, it may improve behavior, said Kilcommons, who noted that unneutered male dogs between the ages of one and three are the most likely to bite. Once the canine is welcomed to the family, it's best to start training early, before problem behaviors occur. Many owners inadvertently teach their dogs habits that cause trouble with kids, Wilson said.
Most people feed their dogs by just lowering the food, with no verbal command.
It's on the dog's level, so the dog thinks it's his. Adding a verbal command before lowering the dish avoids that problem, she said. Just as the dog must learn how to behave, the children in the family must be taught to treat the dog as a living companion, not a plaything. No, it's in the child's nature. Although he believes temperament testing is vital, how a family treats a dog has just as much impact on how the animal turns out as any inborn traits, Rosen believes.