Spread The Word And Prevent Dog Bites
77% of dog bites come from a family or friend’s dog. That means that these aren’t crazy, stray, vicious dogs - they are OUR dogs!
Contrary to popular belief, bites RARELY happen out of the blue — and your kids’ actions can play a HUGE role in how safe they are around the dogs they love and live with. All too often, miscommunication is at the root of the issue. We expect dogs to read our likes and dislikes — but often have no idea how to read theirs.
Although most dogs are amazing at dealing with all the crazy stuff a family can throw their way, they still may need your help. Kids can sometimes be scary to dogs because by nature, they’re just more unpredictable, more uncoordinated and way more likely to get in a dog’s face than most adults.
In many cases, we do not know a rescued dog’s past. This means that there could have been issues in his life that could change their disposition towards children. Preparation and education of the children is key before adopting a rescue, and it’s imperative for parents to pay close attention to how a new canine and children interact for the first few weeks.
Before you bring a rescue dog into your home, consider the age and maturity level of your children. Toddlers are not able to understand why they should act a certain way around a dog. Fear aggression in dogs is one of the most common reasons things can go wrong. No matter how much you try to explain to your toddler why they shouldn’t push a dog to their limit, they will often do it anyway because it seems like standard play. However, if your child is old enough to understand the signs that a dog is communicating, a rescue can be a great opportunity to learn about responsibility, communication, respect of boundaries and how to raise a pet.
How do Dogs communicate?
Dogs use their eyes, ears, mouth, tail and whole bodies to show you how they’re feeling. Dogs will usually communicate using their polite, subtle signs (’whispering’) but, if those are ignored, they may resort to growling, snarling or snapping (’shouting’).
Watch this video with your family & kids. Help them understand what dogs are saying and teach them a VERY important skill: WHEN TO STAY AND WHEN TO WALK AWAY. If you keep pointing out your dog's body language clues, showing when it is best to leave your dog alone, over time it will just become second nature to your kids (even without prompting!).
Not only will they understand YOUR dog, but being able to read body language will keep them safer around ALL the OTHER dogs they meet too.
Educate yourself and your family about dog safety
Safety Around Dogs
Always ask permission before petting or touching someone else's dog.
Most of the time, we encounter friendly, wiggly dogs in public. But you should be cautious if a dog goes still, becomes stiff, and/or is not wagging in a loose and friendly way.
Don't corner a dog. All dogs have a sense of personal space, so watch their body language as you get closer (or the dog gets closer to you).
When approached by a strange dog, stand quietly, hands at your sides and avoid eye contact. A dog's natural instinct is to chase, so if you run, a dog may chase. Watch the dog out of the corner of your eye and don't turn your back.
Do not approach dogs in cars or on chains or ropes. Dogs can be protective about their territory and may feel a bit more vulnerable or defensive than usual. When dogs are tied up, they know they can't run away so their only defense will be to fight.
To avoid startling dogs, don't approach or touch them while they're sleeping, fixated on something, or with their puppies.
Never get between dogs who are fighting and keep your hands away from their heads.
Leave dogs alone when they are eating, whether the dog is eating from a bowl or chewing a treat or any other high-value item. Like people, dogs don't like it when people get between them and their food.
Don't reach over or through fences or barriers to pet or touch a dog.
Never tease, chase or harass a dog.
Don't enter a property containing a dog if you're not accompanied by the dog's person. Dogs can be protective of their family and territory and think it's their job to protect them.
The Dog-Safe Family
Children should always be accompanied around dogs, even the family dog.
Supervising children around dogs not only protects the children from accidents but also protects the dog from harm by children who don't always know that touching animals in a certain way can hurt them.
Don't leave babies unattended around dogs. Dogs may not realize that babies aren't as strong as adults or even know what a baby is.
If you're expecting a baby, start early to get your dog used to the changes a baby will make in your dog's and your lives.
Don't attempt or allow your children to attempt to remove anything (toys, food or other objects) from your dog's mouth. Instead, find something of equal or greater value to offer your dog as a trade.
Teach your children about dog safety early and promote dog-safe practices. Watch the video above about a dog’s body language and discuss.
If you are considering bringing a new dog into your family, write down what your family is like and then consult your local shelter staff or do research on the Internet to learn about what kind of dog would be best for you.