Tornjak and children

In Bosnia they say that many children learned to walk beside tornjak. I gladly believe that because tornjak is a strong dog, almost insensitive to pulling his long hair. But beware!
There are a lot of differences between theirs and ours lifestyle. In Bosnia people and above all shepherds are spending every day with a dog and are totally accustomed to one another.
With us dogs are home alone most of the day, children are in kindergartens and in schools. And those few hours a day families spend together, most dog owners probably don't have the time to observe a dog playing with the children, at least not for longer periods of time. This is not good, because we must be aware of the fact that it is not only necessary for the dog to get accustomed to a child but the other way around too.
It is necessary to teach a child that it is important to first pet the dog under his chin so that a dog can see the hand and won't be afraid if the child wanted to hug it around the neck (which is child's natural reaction). A child must also know that when feeding a dog it is important not to remove the hand right before the dog takes the snack. The dog will automatically jump for the snack and unintentionally knock down the child. Of course it is of most importance to teach a dog to take the food from the hand slowly, carefully and not with a snap.
A child can lead a dog on a leash if you are doing the same with a second leash. Your leash should be shorter than the child's. You must know that a dog that weighs 30kg and more can knock down an inattentive leader even if he is an adult.
I have very positive experience with a tornjak-child relationship. I have a granddaughter that is 3 years old and she practically grew up with two Žankas' litters. With her first litter she was just over one year old and she could play with the puppies until they were about 5 weeks old, after that we had to be careful that she didn't get knocked down by the playing puppies. With the second litter she was three years old and that were unforgettable moments for me. Even when puppies were in their nest in the house she would sit among them on the straw observing them, and from time to time she petted one of them. She knew that she shouldn't hold it in her hands as she didn't know the proper way of holding it, and the puppy could fall on the floor. It was interesting to watch Žankas' reaction. She was standing at the entrance to the nest watching Liza playing with her puppies. Of course I was in the nest with them all the time. Liza is now walking them, calling them, she has even learned how to whistle so she could call them as didi does (didi was supposed to be "dedi", which means grandfather). In any case Žanka is Liza's greatest love. Liza was climbing all over her when she was a baby. Žanka was pulling her on the sledge, but they have most fun playing with a ball. Liza could kick the ball for Žanka all day long, and it seems that Žanka could fetch all day long.
But even at play the rule applies, never let them play without the presence of me or the parents. Play can be very pleasant, but if a dog of 40 kilograms jumps to the other direction as predicted, accident is quick to happen. We have been through that too, and without consequences, but when Liza was flying through the air it all looked worse than it really was. No one from the people present was to blame. It has happened when our other dog, mutt Muri, came from behind and Žanka wanted to play with him, she abruptly turned around and hit Liza with her head. But the soft grass and kisses from "didi" soothed the consequences
On the pictures you can see that this is a dog born for children. It would say in a brochure. But the truth is that all dogs are like this. It is only a matter of training and upbringing. And most of all, there must always an adult present when a dog is playing with a small child.