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Children and Dogs
Kid-proof your Dogs – Dog-proof your Kids
Many times in the media we hear stories of children being bitten by a dog and hospitalised while the dog is taken away and put down. Sadder still is that often it is the family pet that has bitten the child. We are shown pictures of terrible injuries and traumatised kids, and a dog owner who declares their pet wouldn’t hurt a fly… normally.
First, a dog should never be chained up outside, unattended. Most dogs of guard or working heritage suffer personality quirks when tied up and many become downright aggressive. Dogs are better off in fenced areas where they can see the barrier between them and the outside world, where they can feel somewhat safe from noisy frolicking children. In addition, many dogs instinctively equate the high-pitched sounds of children with the distress sounds of prey animals, and they react by biting the child as they would have been bitten the prey animal in the wild.
Second, children should be taught how to behave around dogs, even if their own family does not own a dog. For example, a child should never approach a strange dog without asking the owner if it is ok to pat the dog. If the child sees a loose dog on the street he should not approach it, even if he knows the dog belongs to his friend. He should tell someone that he saw the dog but should make no attempt to pat or grab it. Nor should he scream or run away, for these actions can result in an attack by the dog. A running child frequently says “prey” to the dog and triggers the chase response in its brain. Once triggered this response is almost impossible to interrupt. The dog is reacting to chemical stimulus, not rational thought, and is extremely difficult to sidetrack.
Most dogs, even those that are well-trained, do not consider children as figures of authority.
Furthermore, since children frequently stare intently at animals, a dog may feel threatened by this short person who is trying to catch them.
Even the best-natured dog may bite to protect itself in these circumstances, especially if he feels cornered.
Once a child is given should present her closed fist for the dog to sniff. This protects the fingers in case the dog id frightened and tries to nip.
Children should never hug a dog that is not their own, and should only hug their dog very gently if the dog can tolerate a hug. Children should be taught to never tease a dog in any fashion. Many a dog bites because the child teases the pet beyond endurance.
Dog owners share the responsibility for bite prevention as well. They should socialize their puppies to small children at an early age. (It helps to buy from a breeder who has started this socialization prior to the puppy purchase, for the younger the puppy is exposed to gentle children, the more tolerant of children it will become.) Socialisation can be as simple as walking the dog near a playground where children are making noise, running about, playing ball or Frisbee or soccer, or walking through the neighbourhood while the kids wait for the school bus. The dog can be told to walk at heel through a crowd of children, to sit-stay and watch the play or allow the children to pat its head, to down-stay until the end of the game. Constant exposure to this type will accustom the dog to the presence and antics of children.
The dog should never be left alone with a child less than five years of age.
A young child may challenge or injure the dog unintentionally and the result could be tragic. Dogs and children should be separated at snack time so the dog doesn’t learn to steal food from tiny hands.
The dog should have a place he can call his own, a retreat or private room or area. This can be a pen in
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