Preventing Dog Bites
By HollywoodPet.net |
Sun, 17 Dec 2006
If you have ever have been bitten by a dog, you know just how much it hurts. Every year dog bites occur and the majority of the time it occurs within the owners home. Almost half of dog bites involve children. Kids don't know to respect dogs and their territory. A few tips on keeping you and your children safer will make everyone happier.
Never leave a baby alone with a dog.
An otherwise calm dog can get stirred up around a baby. Keep babies supervised at all times. This cannot be stressed enough.
Establish rules for daily interaction.
Never let your children discipline the dog. Never let your children walk the dog without your direct supervision. Teach your children not to play rough with your pet and to especially not pull the dogs tail or collar. The wagging tail always gets a childs attention and it should be avoided. Teach all members of the household how to communicate with your pet through body language and voice. Establish ground rules to keep things clear and consistent with your pet.
Establish rules for feeding.
Never let your child feed the dog without your supervision. Many dogs become territorial at food time. Keep the children and their hands away from the food area.
Establish rules concerning strange dogs.
Teach your children to stay away from sleeping or eating dogs. Dogs with puppies should especially be avoided. Dogs can bite instinctively without thinking. Teach your child to NEVER approach a strange dog. This is all to common with children, who assume all pets are well-behaved. This comes from their personal experience of having a friendly pet at home. Take extra care when allowing your children near a strange dog even if the owner is present. And lastly, dogs that are tied up should not be approached and make sure your children don't enter yards that are unfamiliar to them.
Decreasing the number of dog bites is about precaution. If children are taught respect, the number of dog bites can be reduced greatly. Most dogs are aggressive out of fear. Seeing the signs of a risky dog is much easier for adults. With a little attention your family and your children will be safe.
