A non-profit organization dedicated to Dog Bite Prevention
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A non-profit organization dedicated to Dog Bite Prevention |
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Your dog won't bite - but what about your child's friend's dogs?
Half of all children are bitten by a dog by the time they are 12 years old and the majority of these are bites by a dog that the child knows. Your child is more likely to be bitten by your own dog, or a dog belonging to a friend, neighbour or relative than by a strange dog running loose.
It is your responsibility as a parent to ensure the safety of your children, so...
If your kids visit houses where there are dogs, ensure that the dog is separated from the children, or supervised if the children are allowed to play with the dog or in the presence of the dog.
Meet the dog for yourself - if you have any worries then insist that the dog is crated when your child visits - or invite the other child to your house instead.
If your children report that the friend's dog growled, snapped, barked at them, urinated in the house in their presence or did anything that worried or surprised your child then your child should not be allowed to return to that house unless the dog is crated at all times when children are present. Click here to read about signs of aggression or anxiety.
Remember that 50% of all children are bitten by a dog before they are 12 and most of these bites are at someone's home by a known dog.
Ensure that your children know and abide by Teresa's Bad Rules.
Ensure that your children know how to read dog body language and know to wait for the friend's dog to approach them when they visit (if they must interact with the dog) and know to avoid dangerous interactions with the dog - download photo card that teaches some basic dog body language.
Look at the pictures of contrasting dog emotions on the Doggone Safe calendar and teach your children to recognize the difference between an approachable dog and a dog that wants to be left alone.
Download the Doggone Safe Learn to Speak Dog video slide show and watch it with your kids.
Teach children only to pet happy dogs and only when the adult owner is present.
It is your responsibility as a dog owner to make sure that your dog does not bite or frighten visiting children, so...
Supervise at all times and if you can't supervise then separate children and dogs.
Create kid and dog "zones" using a crate or other barriers so that both dog and kids can be comfortable, happy and safe.
Never allow children to play rough games with the dog - enforce Teresa's Bad Rules in your house.
Don't be offended if another parent asks you to keep your dog separate from their child.
Child-proof your dog - Read the book Child Proofing Your Puppy by Brian Kilcommons
Read an article by Karen Pryor about dealing with children who are afraid of your dog when they visit.
Be sure that your dog does not guard food or possessions. A dog like this is potentially very dangerous and should be kept separate from children. Read an article by Joan Orr and Teresa Lewin about resource guarding.
Read an article by Jennifer Shryock about keeping play dates bite free
Source: Doggone Safe!TM A non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention. Contact us at doggonesafeinfo@doggonesafe.com
Copyright 2002 Teresa Lewin and Joan Orr
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