Dog Safety for Kids
Teaching Your Child to Respect Man's Best Friend
While the emphasis should remain on finding a child-friendly dog, keep in mind your dog will only be half of the equation. Even the best dog in the world has a limit, so keep these safety tips for a peaceful household in mind.
Learn Canine Body Posture
- A child should first and foremost be taught to recognize canine body posture signals. Communication is often the basis of respect in any relationship, and if your child is taught to recognize and respect the early warning signs of an unhappy dog the family will be the better for it.
Learn When to Approach the Dog
- A child should be taught never to approach a dog who is eating, drinking, or sleeping. A startled or threatened dog may snap instinctively.
Respect the Dog's Space
Basic respect for the space and the preferences of the dog will go a long way towards ensuring a good working relationship. A child can literally love a dog to distraction and you'll need to watch for this.
- All children love to hug their dogs, but keep in mind that to be held tightly around the neck is neither a natural or a comfortable experience for the dog.
- A good yank on the ears or the tail can all lead an otherwise patient dog to lose his cool, so tell your child to keep your hands off the tail, the mouth, the ears, or any other tender point on the dog until the child has the self-control to handle the dog gently and respectfully.
- Teach your child to look at the world from the dog's point of view, and to understand that a dog is not a toy. This may not come naturally to a child at first (in fact, it rarely does) but continue to communicate to your child the value of the dog's point of view and the rewards will pay off in time.
In Case a Dog Bite Occurs
- Keep your dog up to date on all of his vaccinations (especially Rabies) and make sure that any injury that occurs to the child or the dog is given the appropriate medical attention immediately.
Last but not least, remember that you are the only adult in the relationship. Never leave a child alone with a dog, it is your responsibility to supervise all interactions between the child and the dog.
Never forget that actions speak louder than words. Make sure your attitudes and actions around animals are demonstrating the self-same respect and consideration for the dog that you would hope to see in your child. Make considerate and responsible decisions regarding your dog's care, and in addition to teaching your child dog safety, you will give him or her the opportunity to learn some valuable lessons about life and responsibility.
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