Dog
Bite Prevention
Safe Kids are Bite Free!
Approximately
1/2 of all children in the U.S. are bitten by a dog before they
hit the teenage years. And 800,000 bites a year are severe enough
to require medical treatment.
These statistics alone make us realize how important it is to teach
our children dog safety!
The
vast majority of dog bites are from a dog that the child is at least
acquainted with—his or her own, a neighbor's, or a friend's
pet canine. You can help prevent this from happening by discussing
this list with your child and helping him/her learn when and how
to interact with doggie friends.
Here
are some basic rules for dog interaction:
- Do
not stare into the dog's eyes. This can cause aggressive behaviour
because the dog feels challenged.
- Do
not tease dogs behind fences. You could become a target
of aggression if they can get near you.
- Do
not go near dogs chained up in yards. They become very
territorial and may view you as an intruder into their
area.
- Do
not touch a loose (off-leash) dog outside. Tell an adult
immediately.
- Do
not run and scream if a loose dogs come near you. Stand very
still (like a tree) and be very quiet while he is near.
- Do
not touch or play with a dog while he or she is eating.
- Do
not touch a dog while he or she is sleeping.
- Only
touch a dog after receiving permission from the guardian.
The caretaker knows if the dog is safe and will not harm a child.
- Ask
permission of the dog by letting him sniff your closed hand.
This is a nonthreatening interaction to the dog.
- Always
treat a dog with respect and kindness. They will treat you
the same in return.
- Hold
your hand flat when feeding a treat to a dog.
- Give
your dog obedience lessons. This will provide him with
better control and better human interaction skills.
- Love
your dog and have fun with her!
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