Did you know that of the estimated 800,000 dog bites that occur
each year involve children between the ages 5 and 8? TV host and dog trainer
Victoria Stilwell from animal planet is offering some tips to children on what
they need to know in order to interact safely with dogs!
Not every dog is your friend.
Kids often mistake wagging tails for happiness —
and that isn’t always the case, Stilwell says. Help kids recognize when a dog
is showing signs of aggression or fear. The American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.org) offers photos that illustrate canine body language and tips to avoid dog bites.
Embrace
your inner tree (or rock).
Dogs
lose interest when they are ignored, so Stilwell (right) tells children to
become a tree, standing still and avoiding eye contact when dogs approach. If
kids get knocked to the ground, advise them to roll up like a stone on the
ground with knees in and hands behind their neck so they protect vital organs.
Practice makes perfect.
Report
loose or stray dogs.
If
kids see a stray dog during walks to school, remind them to alert an adult.
Stilwell says that parents should report loose dogs to animal control
immediately. “There are so many irresponsible dog owners out there and these
people need to be reported,” she says.
Be
careful when walking on a dog’s ‘turf.’
Many
owners rely on electric fences or shock collars to keep dogs confined to their
own yard. But Stilwell notes that kids and other animals can easily cross those
invisible boundaries — and that’s often when the trouble occurs. “Mostly
children are bitten on the dog’s territory by a dog that they know,” she says.
“It’s rare for a child to be bitten by a dog that comes out of nowhere and
bites them.”
Never
touch dogs behind a fence.
Tell
kids to exercise caution and avoid taunting or exciting dogs behind fences, she
says. Remember, that fence may not be too sturdy, and some determined dogs can
jump over fences without any trouble.
Taunting
dogs is a form of bullying.
“Being
kind to animals is much more powerful than teasing, bullying, or being rough or
unkind to these creatures,” she says. “How would you feel if you were
teased or bullied or hit?”
Do you find these tips useful? Let us know if you have any additional
tips on our Facebook page, linked HERE!
