Advice for PARENTS to TEACH YOUR CHILD Concerning Dogs

Elderly dogs may have impaired vision or hearing, or more sensitive to touch which can cause them to be more easily startled.

Even a friendly dog may bite if threatened, angry, afraid or hurt. 

Teach children that dogs naturally protect objects, people, and places.

Teach children that treating dogs with respect is for their personal safety.

NEVER disturb any dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.

NEVER pet a dog, even your own, without letting him see and sniff you first.

Children must always ASK PERMISSION from the owner and their parents BEFORE petting any dog.

If the owner cannot control the dog and have it SIT nicely for the child to pet, WALK AWAY

NEVER approach a dog that is confined behind a fence, within a car, or on a chain.

NEVER TEASE any dog by poking at them through fences or car windows or reaching your arm through to pet them.

NEVER RUN away from a dog that is chasing you. STOP, STAND STILL, REMAIN CALM, ARMS AT YOUR SIDES, be quiet and DO NOT SCREAM. Walk away SLOWLY FACING THE DOG BUT NOT STARING AT its eyes

If you are attacked, STOP, CURL UP IN A BALL LIKE A TURTLE, COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS

Do not chase after dogs and do not scream and be loud around dog

Children should not stare into the eyes of dogs

If a dog starts to circle you - turn with it, don't let it get behind you

If the dog shows aggressive behavior (I.e. barking or growling) put something between you and the dog - like a chair

Just because a dog wags its tail does not mean it’s friendly.  If a dog approaches you remain calm and motionless. Keep your hands at your side.

If you own any dog, but especially a dog that has had the smallest amount of aggression or protection training it is your moral and legal obligation to make sure that you do everything possible to insure that your dog is never in a situation where it could bite a child.  If you must leave the room, do not leave the child alone with the dog.  Bring the child with you and command the dog to stay.

While no prevention program is 100% successful, teaching children how to safely approach or retreat from a dog, and which situations to avoid, will give them greater confidence and safety in handling encounters with dogs. It can make life more enjoyable for dogs too!

Cornering, crowding or standing over a dog, particularly a small one may make it feel defensive. Children should stand back and never put their faces close to a dog’s mouth. The face is the most common site of serious dog bite injuries.

Dogs can feel left out, especially when a new baby or pet joins the household. Give a dog extra love and attention at these times but not in the proximity of children.  Remember, there’s no such thing as a free reward either.  Dogs should be walked regularly and respond to commands.

Introducing Dogs and Babies

On average, there are 1,200-2000 children killed by their parents every year.  Over the past 16 years, fatal attacks from dog fights averaged 15-18 per year. 

Most dogs that kill children have no shown prior aggression tendencies.  Most attacks are on older boys.

To ensure your baby’s safety, ask yourself these questions about your dog’s tempermant:

·         Has the dog been aggressive to strangers?

·         Has the dog been aggressive to strange children?

·         Has the dog been aggressive to smaller animals? (cats, chickens, etc)

If yes, then you need to be very careful around the new baby.  This does not mean that the dog cannot learn to accept the baby.  AVOID having the dog and baby in same and adjacent rooms of the house until fully obedience trained and behavior modification is complete. 

The dog should be trained enough it that it will stay in its crate or on its mat.

Crate training is a must.  The crate should never be in the bedroom.  If the dog becomes excited and the baby cries, the dog goes in the crate.  Give the dog a kong filled with peanut butter or its favorite treat/toy to distract it. 

Never ever allow the dog in the baby’s bedroom, even when you are present.  All bedrooms in the house should be off limits.

Once the baby is born, bring a blanket with the baby’s scent home (or a dirty diaper) to wrap the dog’s favorite toy in.  Lay it on the floor and correct the dog if it even attempts to check it out.  It must not even go and smell it.

When the baby is brought home, have mom meet the dog first without the baby.  This should not be loud.  When the baby is brought in, the dog must obey to ‘down stay’ several feet from the mother and baby.

The dog is never allowed to smell the baby.  Dog’s smell is already good, it can smell the baby from far away and does not need to be up close.

If there is any concern at any time about obedience and control of the dog the baby is present, the dog should be crated or be on leash.

Get the dog a selection of new toys before the baby comes home.  Control access so the dog doesn’t get bored with the toys.

Never allow the dog to lick the baby.  While this may be a sign of submission, remember you’re dealing with an animal first and foremost.