I'm grateful for Channel 7's Sunrise program this morning for providing guidelines  that parents can teach kids (big and small!) to avoid dog bites.

We owned a greyhound briefly. Great dog: compliant, friendly, placid. Not a good dog for kids though, first because he had never learned to play (he'd been a racing dog before we adopted him) and second because of his size (a small misdemeanour became a big one because of this). One day our then-4-year-old suprised him when he was sleeping and he bit out, catching the boy on his lip. It was only a minor cut (thank you God!) but the red flag went up. "Rocky" (the dog not the boy!) had to find a more appropriate home.

Wish I'd spent the time on dog education before that incident.

Here's the tips:

  • Don’t go near strange dogs in the street or park.
  • Tell an adult about any stray dogs.
  • Never bother a dog that is eating, sleeping or caring for puppies.
  • Leave the dog alone if it raises the hair on its back,. lifts its lip or growls (it's not playing)
  • If you want to pat a dog at someone's house, ask permission from the owner and make sure the owner is with you and watching when you do.
  • Always have an adult with you when you play with a dog.
  • When you play with  a dog for the first time, put the back of your hand out slowly for the dog to sniff. If the dog offers you its head, don't pat it on top of the head but gently rub under its chin or chest
  • Never tease a dog, never tease a dog, never tease a dog!
  • Don't squeal (this works well at keeping adults from attacking you too!)

    • If a dog approaches you…

    • Don’t run away and scream.
    • Stand very still, “like a tree.” (See first picture below.)
    • Avoid making direct eye contact with the dog.
    • If you fall or are knocked down, act “like a log.” (See second picture below.)
    • When the dog understands that you are not a threat, it will probably walk away.
    • If a dog bites you, tell an adult right away.
    illustration

     illustration

    Like most subjects, this information is easily understood by adults – but how do we get this across to kids? My suggestions to begin with would include the following but maybe you havsome more to add in the comments area?

    • show the child what you mean with a picture or soft toy! (How often do you just filter out what people are saying to you? Kids do it more) For example, you raise the teddy bear's hackles" to show the child what that looks like.
    • help them understand the relevance by telling a story (we all need to know WHY the information is important before we listen and apply it)
    • make a time specifically devoted to talking through this subject; don't sandwhich it in between brushing their teeth and grabbing their schoolbag in the morning or part of the dinner table conversation. Avoid distractions while talking about it
    • go back over the points with them often. Ask them questions about it. Give them quizes with a prize. Get them saying the information back to you (until they say in frustration "I know this!")

    You can read more on this important subject at

    http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/dog_care/stay_dog_bite_free/teaching_your_child_to_avoid_dog_bites.html