Letting kids give your dog a treat is one way to help dogs become more comfortable around children.

But manual dexterity is a challenge for many kids; they have trouble holding a dog treat and then releasing it. A child may be frightened if your dog engulfs his whole hand when she takes a treat. Even gentle tooth contact can be scary for a child.

It’s better to find a way to avoid that concern than to have to reassure a frightened child. There are many ways to make treat delivery a bit easier and less scary for young kids.

1. Drop the treats on the floor.
2. Give the child a bowl to hold while your dog eats a treat out of it. Fill the bowl one treat at a time.
3. Hold the treat on an open palm for the dog to lick off.
4. Put the treat on the back of the child’s hand. Young kids often have trouble holding their hand open. Their fingers curl up and form a bowl. In this case, it may be better to teach the child to put out his fist (fingers down) and for you to place the dog’s treat on top of his hand.
5. Have the child sit on the counter or kitchen table (with you standing right there, of course) and he can toss treats to your dog. This can be a good option for bouncy dogs so that your child doesn’t get bumped or frightened.

Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC, author of Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind, is America’s Kids and Canines Coach. Colleen has more than 15 years’ experience as the go-to person for parents trying to navigate kid-and-dog issues. Because every interaction between a child and a dog can be improved by a knowledgeable adult, Colleen is committed to educating parents, children, and dog owners on kid-and-dog relationships. For more information visit www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com.