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Dogs and Kids
Many kids grow up with a pet dog in the house. Although, having a family dog has many benefits, including teaching children responsibility and offering fun and companionship, one of the risks to having young children and dogs is that dogs can bite. This is unfortunate for the child and the dog as the dog is often euthanized.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 5 million people are bitten by dogs annually and of those, 1 million require medical attention. Over half of these bite incidents involve children. In almost 80% of the cases the child knew the dog or it was the family pet.
Although dog bites are a huge health problem, they can be easily prevented. There are several steps parents can take to teach their children to avoid a dog bite injury from the family pet.
Firstly, choose a dog carefully. Evaluate your lifestyle and environment to choose a breed that fits it. If you don’t have time to exercise a dog 1 – 2 hours daily, don’t get a large sporting breed. Consider a smaller dog instead. Consult a professional if needed, as they have experience with many breeds of dogs. A dog with a history of aggression is never appropriate for homes with children.
Another important rule for parents to follow is to NEVER leave small children alone with a dog, even the family dog.
Dogs should be neutered or spayed to avoid aggressive tendencies.
Do not play aggressive games with your dog such as wrestling or tug-of-war. Often dogs cannot distinguish what is appropriate rough play or tugging and may accidentally bite a child.
Provide your dog with a safe haven. Dogs need a place to go to get away, especially if children or visitors are bothering them. Their space can be a separate room, such as the den, or a crate. Children should never be allowed to bother the dog when he is in his “safe zone”.
Teach children safe body language and movement when approaching dogs. Teach them not to pull tails or ears or grab fur. Demonstrate appropriate gentle touching of their beloved pet. Children should never approach a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
Although most of the above mentioned guidelines seem intuitive, dog and human body language is very different. Simple gestures that humans consider polite, such as leaning forward to shake a hand, are actually threatening to a dog. Learning to interpret canine body language and adjusting your won could prevent a bite and save your pet’s life.
Companion Animal Care will be offering a fun and informative day camp for kids. “Canine Companion Camp” will be a half day class for children with pets. The goal will be to teach children how to read dog body language, how to approach a dog, when it is safe to approach a dog, and some simple dog care.
“Canine Companion Camp” is offered Saturday January 16th at 9:30am for children ages 6 - 12.
Pre-registration is strongly recommended.
The price is $10.00 per child and parents are welcome to attend.
To register call 921-5199.
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