Years ago, in fact it was about 2 BK (2 years before kids), I took my dog for a walk through the village of Southampton NY. A family with a boy of 2 or 3 years approached and asked if their son could pet my dog. “Well done” I thought as they had followed proper dog etiquette by asking. I said “sure, he’s friendly”, and the boy approached my dog and proceeded to whack him across the muzzle.
Being that my dog was very well trained, he didn’t respond except to look at me with a puzzled expression. But another dog might have retaliated. That’s why teaching our kids how to prevent dog bites is something that we should all do.
May 15-21 is national dog bite prevention week. You can see some great tips and resources at the AVMA website here. Some general advice to follow is:
1.Teach kids never to hit a dog (you’d think it is obvious, but apparently not), pull on their tales or ears, try to ride them, or even hug them. Dogs love to pet, stroked & rubbed, but hugs are too restrictive
2.Teach them to simply avoid unknown dogs. Don’t teach them to fear them, simply avoid them unless they are under control of an adult.
3.Teach kids never to stare at a dog. In dog world, this is challenge and it may be answered with aggression. And never put their face right in front of a dogs face (as if to kiss), you may have seen this disturbing video…
4.Let sleeping dogs lie. Teach them never to bother a dog when sleeping or eating.
And last, never leave a young child unattended with any dog, even your own. When I was about 6 I was playing with my dog and a neighborhood friend, when out of nowhere, my dog jumped up and nipped my face. I was scared and shocked, but otherwise fine, we had no idea why. Until many years later my “friend” his mom that he had intentionally stepped on my dogs tail to see what would happen.
So use common sense and avoid something that sent 400,000 kids to ER’s last year.
