It’s undeniable that the bond between children and pets can be special. Pets offer companionship, comfort and plenty of happy memories as children grow up. Also, research suggests that learning how to care for a pet can help children develop empathy, patience and a sense of responsibility.
But building a positive relationship takes time, guidance and understanding. Whether you have a cat, dog, rabbit or another small pet, children need to learn that animals have their own needs, feelings and boundaries.
On 1 November 2026, Defra's new child safety requirement came into effect across the UK for banned breeds. This new law requires owners to ensure that children under 12 are not left in close contact with their dog in a private place, such as the home or garden, without appropriate adult supervision.
While this applies to dogs covered by the banned-breed rules, it’s important to help children stay safe around all pets. Read PDSA's official statement on the new child safety requirement.
Research by the Pet Education Partnership (PEP), of which PDSA is a proud member, highlighted the importance of helping children understand animal behaviour. The PEP Children and Pets Survey 2025 found that 72% of children surveyed believed dogs have feelings, while 70% believed they can communicate with us. Helping children recognise how pets communicate and understand when they need space can support safer, happier relationships.
However, positive relationships with pets are not always without challenges. The survey also found that 66% of children reported having some kind of negative encounter with a pet. Almost three-quarters (73%) of these children reported that the animal involved was a dog, while 16% reported a cat.
But why do pets sometimes react negatively?
Pets, just like humans, can feel anxious, frightened or overwhelmed in certain situations. If they feel uncomfortable in a situation, they may react defensively. Some pets may freeze or feel too frightened to move away, even if they have space to do so.
Animals communicate how they feel through body language and behaviour, and there are often subtle signs that a pet is becoming uncomfortable before they show more obvious signs of distress.
Subtle signs from a dog include:
- Yawning when they’re not tired
- Licking their nose
- Turning their head or body away
- Holding their ears back
If they become increasingly uncomfortable this may lead onto more obvious signs such as growling, snapping or biting.
Subtle signs from a cat include:
- Tense or hunched posture
- Flattened ears
Other pets may hide, become still or show other signs that they need space.
These are just some examples of stress signals, and every pet is different. Learning what’s normal for your pet and recognising changes in their behaviour can help you respond before the situation escalates. Teaching children to respect an animal's boundary is an important part of keeping everyone, including your pet, safe.
For dog specific advice, check out our canine ladder of communication guide, which explains how dogs communicate through body language. You can also find out more about dog body language, cat body language and rabbit and small animals body language.
Here’s everything you should know on keeping children and pets safe while helping them build positive relationships.
Our top tips for keeping children safe around pets
To build positive relationships between children and animals, we need to teach them how to behave around them. These tips can help children of any age learn to respect pets' needs and understand their own responsibilities.
1. Never leave a child alone with a pet
Even if your child and pet seem to get along well, you should never leave them together unsupervised.
Children, especially younger children, may not be able to fully understand a pet's body language or know how to behave appropriately around a pet. They may hug a pet tightly, get too close to their face or disturb them while they're resting without realising they could be making them feel scared or uncomfortable.
An adult should actively supervise interactions and be close enough to step in if needed. Active supervision means paying attention to how both the child and pet are behaving and being ready to intervene if either becomes uncomfortable. Parents and carers can also model appropriate interactions. For example, if a dog walks away, explain to the child that the dog wants space and show them that we shouldn’t follow or pursue them.
Children don't need to hug, stroke or touch a pet to enjoy being around them. They can talk to the animals, wave from a comfortable distance or practice gentle interactions with a cuddly toy version of their pet. This can be particularly helpful for toddlers who are still learning to control their impulses.
While the new legal condition applies to dogs covered by the banned-breed rules, any pet can pose a risk in certain situations. Appropriate supervision, understanding body language and teaching children how to interact with pets' safely and respectfully are important in helping to prevent incidents and protect both children and animals.
2. Teach children not to approach unfamiliar pets
Children should never stroke or approach an unfamiliar pet without first checking with the owner and having an adult guide them. Even if the pet looks friendly, they may not want to interact.
To encourage positive pet interactions, we must teach children to give pets space if they turn away, move away or show other signs of discomfort. They should never chase a pet, corner them or approach them when they're eating, sleeping or caring for their toys.
This applies to all animals. Rather than approaching or reaching out to touch a pet, teach children to stay calm and give the animal the choice to approach them. If the pet moves away, children should respect this and never follow or force contact.
To help children learn more about staying safe around dogs, watch the Pet Education Partnership’s (PEP) engaging animation, which teaches children how to recognise dog behaviour and interact with dogs safely.
3. Keep children's toys separate from pet toys
It’s easy for children and pets to become interested in each other's toys, but it’s best to keep them separate.
Most children's toys may not be suitable for our pets, and small pieces could cause serious harm if swallowed. Many pets may also feel worried if someone tries to take a toy away from them.
To avoid this, make sure your pet has suitable toys and enrichment activities of their own, and teach children to leave these alone. If necessary, keep toys out of children’s reach while making sure your pet can still access them safely, for example by placing them in a suitable area behind a stair gate or barrier.
You can explore our vet-approved dog toys, cat toys and small pet toys for ideas.
Alternatively, visit the Pet Education Partnership (PEP) to find out how to make enrichment toys for pets with your child.
4. Make sure pets have a safe space of their own
Every pet needs somewhere they can retreat to when they want some peace and quiet. Some dogs enjoy being around people, while others need more space and time alone. Cats and smaller pets also need somewhere they can feel safe and undisturbed.
Teach children not to follow pets into their safe space or disturb them when they're eating, resting or playing. Depending on your home and pet, stair gates or other suitable barriers can help create separate spaces and make it easier for everyone to relax. Any barrier or space should be suitable for your pet and allow them access to everything they need, including water, rest and enrichment, for example, appropriate toys, pet-safe chews, puzzles and snuffle mats to keep your pet mentally and emotionally fulfilled. Ensure your pet’s needs continue to be met when separating them from children.
Some dogs may enjoy spending time in a crate, which can provide a comfortable place to rest when introduced positively and used appropriately. A crate should never be used as a punishment or as a substitute for supervising children around dogs. Read our guide to crate training your dog.
5. Teach children about responsible pet care
Helping children understand what their pet needs is a great way to build empathy and encourage responsible habits. Depending on their age, a child could help an adult fill a water bowl, prepare their pet's food, brush them if they enjoy it or set up a suitable enrichment activity.
Ensure that these tasks are appropriate for the child and the pet and supervise them closely. Adults remain responsible for meeting the animals' needs and making sure they're handled safely.
For dogs, a specific way to help children learn to communicate with their pet calmly and consistently could be positive reward-based training (always with an adult's guidance and supervision).
Helping children and pets build a happy relationship
Children and pets can form such wonderful bonds. To help that relationship thrive, we must start with understanding that every animal is an individual, recognising when they need space and teaching children to interact with them gently and respectfully.
PDSA knows the importance of keeping children safe around our pets. We also recognise that, any dog, regardless of breed, can pose a risk in certain circumstances, so appropriate supervision and an understanding of body language are important parts of responsible pet ownership.
For more advice, head over to our Pet Health Hub and explore more on the Pet Education Partnership's website.