Five Steps to Keeping Kids Safe from Dog Bites

Many believe there’s nothing sweeter than watching children play with a dog. Dogs can be excellent companions for adults and children alike, and caring for a pet teaches children responsibility and respect. But there are risks to owning a dog, and risks to interacting with unfamiliar animals.

The CDC estimates that 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year and over half this number are children. One out of every five bites is serious enough to cause injuries that require medical attention and grounds for a personal injury case.

However, some of these are bites could be prevented through education on how children interact with dogs. To assist in prevention, below are some tips experts recommend teaching your children about dogs and how to interact with them.

Education for Dogs and People

Whether you’re bringing home a new puppy, shelter dog, or a new baby into the house, it’s important to be educated on how dogs and people interact, and be aware of the steps that can be taken to keep your children safe from potential bites.

Dogs have an instinct to protect themselves just as humans do. In order to respect their boundaries and prevent aggressive behavior, there are five steps experts recommend to prevent dog bites in children and encourage healthy relationships across the board.

Get Permission – when children approach a dog, they tend to encroach on their space. Some dogs find this threatening and react as such. Adults should teach children that when they approach any dog they are to get permission from the owner before petting them.

Get the Dogs Permission – not only do we need to get permission from the owner, but obtaining permission from the dog is also important. Teach children to approach slowly, quietly, and keep their hands low where the dog can smell them rather than reaching up over the animal’s head.

During this interaction, parents and children should pay attention to the dog’s body language as well.

Lowering ears, tucking the tail, or cowering are signs that the animal is feeling stressed and it’s wise at this point to step back until they’re more ready to accept the interaction.

Petting and Touching the Dog – many dogs are soothed by gentle scratches behind the ears, or soft strokes down the neck. Use this kind of touch when petting, and if the dog moves away or squirms around a lot stop the petting.

Giving the dog time to adjust to the interaction or sniff the person petting them will help calm them, and prevent bites out of fear or anxiety.

Reward the Dog – dogs are motivated by rewards; often a treat or verbal praise. If the owner allows it, let the child give the dog a treat as a reward for allowing the interaction, or tell the child to praise the dog while petting him to encourage relaxation and build a relationship.

Be Safe and Cautious – for children, there’s nothing more tempting than a boisterous puppy playing at the park, or a big furry dog walking down the street. While there is that temptation to run over and interact with the animal, teach the child to stay away and err on the side of caution.

Puppies at play or dogs who are engaged in an activity are distracted, and often dislike being taken away from the activity. Encourage them to watch and, if possible, wait for the dog to settle down before asking to pet him.

While no method is fool-proof, being cautious and aware of how dogs communicate and how to appropriately interact with them can make all the difference when aiming to prevent dog bites.

By teaching children how to interact with dogs, you’ll encourage good relationships on both sides and allow them to enjoy the life-long benefits of interacting with animals of any type.

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