Child Safety Around Dogs: Ten Things Every Parent Should Teach Their Children

According to the American Veternary Medical Association 500,000 to 800,000 dog bites occur in the United States every year and countless more bites go unreported and untreated.

According to a 1994 study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention out of the 4.7 million reported dog bites 800,000 bites were received by children and the highest percentage of those bites were received by children's between the ages of 4 and 9 years old.

Children 4 years old and younger received more bites to the head and neck areas than older children.

Dog bites are becoming an epidemic in the United States and it isn't restricted to large dogs or breeds that are perceived as "dangerous" by unfounded statistics and half-truths. All dogs bite and all dogs can cause injury to children and adults alike.

Ten Things Every Parent Should Teach Their Children About How to Behave Around Dogs

Parental Tip #1: Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog. Leaving a baby or small child alone with any dog for any reason is irresponsible and dangerous.

Parental Tip #2: Teach your children to never approach a strange dog. If you do not personally know the owner and the dog you should not allow your children to get near the dog. Only allow your children around dogs that you are know are well behaved with children and you know for a fact do not have any fear or aggression issues.

Parental Tip #3: Children should be taught not to hug a dog around the neck. Dogs do not greet each other with hugs. It is considered rude canine behavior and this is one of the reasons why children (especially small children) are bitten in the face and neck areas.

An appropriate greeting is to stand still and let the dog sniff them. Once this happens the child should not reach out over the dogs head to pet them but rather should pet them under their muzzle.

Parental Tip #4: You should teach your kids to never run away from or chase a dog. Running away can trigger prey instinct in a canine. Dogs are also walking motion detectors and rapid movement can help trigger their chase instinct. This encourages the dog to chase and bite.

You should also teach your children not to chase dogs. A dog that is on the run can easily turn around and flip the tables on a child. Once this happens it can empower the dog to become aggressive and use their strength and speed to win the encounter.

Parental Tip #5: You should teach your kids to never bother a dog that is resting or unaware of their presence. If a dog is sleeping, resting quietly, not paying attention or eating children should not bother the dog.

Parental Tip #6: When confronted by a strange dog that is loose you should teach your children to "be a tree" and stand still. They should not move or stare the dog in the eyes. The majority of dogs will sniff, bark, growl and investigate and then leave. By standing still your children lessen the perceived threat the dog may be feeling and increase the likelyhood the dog will leave them alone.

Parental Tip #7: If a dog is attacking your child you should teach them to curl up into a ball and cover the back of their head and neck with their hands and remain as still as possible. Once again, the majority of dogs will bite and leave. Fighting with a dog or running from a dog will increase it's intensity and the result will be a longer more sustained attack.

Parental Tip #8: You should teach your children to never tease a dog. I have personally seen how teasing a dog can get a child bitten. Teasing is unacceptable behavior towards dogs. Teach your children to respect them for the animals they are.

Parental Tip #9: Squealing and running about trigger a dogs prey instinct. Dogs are attracted to jerky movements, high pitched laughs and screams, and children are notorious for these behaviors. Your child should behave in a calm manner around dogs.

Parental Tip #10: Be alert and aware of your surroundings. This goes for both you and your children. You should be alert and aware of your surroundings and you should teach your kids to do the same thing. Keeping your eyes open will help you avoid any potential dog bite situations before they happen.

Dog bites are no laughing matter and precautions should be taken to ensure your children know what to do when confronted with a strange dog or even a familiar dog that shows aggression towards them.

Here are a few web sites that discuss dog bite prevention tips further.

• The American Veternary Medical Association



• American Academy of Pediatrics



• Dog Bite Prevention Aimed at Children



• Prevent the Bite Inc. Note about this site: It was started by Kelly Voigt (who was bitten by a dog and required plastic surgery for her injuries), her mother Kathy Voigt, and Nancy Skeffington to help other children avoid becoming victims of dog bites. Click on the paw in the lower right hand corner that says, "WAIT" for some helpful tips to teach your children.

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