You may have seen numerous stories in the news lately about dog attacks against children. While such attacks are scary and heartbreaking to hear about, the truth is most of them could have been prevented. The truth is, there are several safety tips you can follow whenever having children around dogs, and these tips can help prevent any sort of attack or injury. Talking to children about how to be safe around dogs is essential because it keeps not only the child from harm, but keeps the dog safe and feeling calm as well. Fostering this relationship of mutual respect can lead to a lifelong and positive friendship between your child and animals. If you are unsure where to begin, take a look below at 7 ways to encourage child safety around dogs.
Tip 1 Demonstrate the hand sniff introduction.
When a child sees a dog, they naturally get excited and want to pet the dog. This sudden movement of the child reaching out can cause the dog to feel threatened. Instead, show your child how to gently extend their closed fist and allow the dog to sniff it. Practice with a stuffed animal so your child can get a feel for how to do this.
Tip 2 Always supervise children and dogs.
Even if you have had a family pet for years, avoid leaving your child and the dog alone unattended. Children can get excited and step on the dog’s paw, or younger children may pull at the fur. This can result in the dog biting out of pain. Supervise children around dogs at all times to make sure they are handling the dog appropriately.
Tip 3 Teach children when it is ok to pet dogs.
Not all times are ideal times to pet a dog. Even the most gentle dogs may not like to be touched when they are eating, chewing on their favorite toy, or nursing their pups. Teach children that dogs should not be touched at this time, that it is their special personal time.
Tip 4 Practice how to ask an owner if it is ok to pet their dog.
The plain truth is, not all dogs like to be touched, and not all pet owners want their dogs touched. When walking out in public or at a friend’s house, teach your child how to ask for permission before petting a dog. Practice how to ask and model the behavior so your child knows what it looks like. Simple role playing is a great way to do this! Let them know that if the adult tells them no, it is not a punishment, just a way to keep them safe.
Tip 5 Let children know to never run.
Children may feel scared around a dog, but running from it is one of the worse things they can do. Teach children to never run if feeling threatened by a dog, and instead to fold their arms over their chest in an X and stand as still as a tree. Allow the dog to sniff and most likely he will move on.
Tip 6 Show how to appropriately pet a dog.
Many children do not know how to pet a dog. They may go for the face or move their hands against the direction the fur is growing. A dog may become uncomfortable with this and act out. Take a stuffed animal and show your child how to pet a dog. Do this by letting your hand be sniffed, then by gently petting in the direction the fur is growing. Stay away from the face.
Tip 7 Allow children to feed treats when older.
Children should know to never tease a dog with treats. Nor should they hold the treat between two fingers. Instead, lay a treat flat in your palm and let the dog lick it off. Feed it to the dog right away, and avoid taunting. Both of this concepts are easily understood by older children, so if you feel your child is too young to master these, you might want to wait before allowing her to feed the dog treats.
As you can see, these are fairly simple tips that when utilized can keep both your child and your dog safe and happy. Give these tips a try and see how easy it is to enjoy the dogs around you while feeling safe and secure. It will mean your child stays safe, and it will also mean the world to the dogs in your life!
Source :: Two Little Cavaliers