Most dog bites occur when the family dog bites a young child between ages 2 and 5. The reason for this is twofold: First, the little ones are right in the dogs face, and second, many dogs do not have proper respect for small children, and see them as low-standing members of the pack. Please teach your children how to be safe around dogs and to be respectful with all animals. Most dog bites can be prevented. Adults need to take the time to instruct their children as well as supervise closely interactions between children and dogs.
One of my pet peeves, are families that allow their kids to hang all over the dog, pull it’s hair, and even ride it! These are the same people that come to me, and brag about how good Fluffy is with the children, and how their kids can do anything to her. Not true! Fluffy is getting older, the weather is getting hotter, and Fluffy may have an undiagnosed medical problem that could make him react to pain, by biting. Please, if you allow this behavior, stop now!
Recently, I had weekend guests who had a 2 year old boy. Within minutes of being in my home “Johnny” was sock-surfing across my hard wood floor while holding on to my dog’s tail. While you can and should train your dog to tolerate children, you cannot allow children to engage in this type of behavior. We put the dog in a safe place for the remainder of the visit. She was either crated, leashed at my side, in the yard, or locked in a bedroom.
Had my dog bitten him, I was liable. A dog bite to a child can be a death sentence for a dog, and a preventable trauma for the child and family.
I begin when they are babies. I teach them to the little ones to “make nice” by taking their hand and patting a dog gently, all the while telling them to “make nice” and “be gentle”.

-Teach your kids to stop and stand likes a tree or statue if they are being chased. Dogs have strong prey and chase drives. They can get very excited at the sight of children running and screaming.
- Teach children to stand still and quiet, hands by their side. If the dog continues to come at them, teach them to roll in a ball, like a turtle, with their head tucked under their hands. We do this with the neighborhood kids, and it works! Not only do the dogs calm right down, but the kids remind each other how to behave, before things get out of hand.
-Teach your children never to approach dogs in a neighbor’s yard, even if they know them. Teach them about Invisible electric fences as well. Children should not be going in a yard with a dog, even if the dog is known to them without an adult. A word of caution here, dogs that are tied out and never included in day-to-day activities can become dangerous, especially dogs bred for protection work. These are the dogs that see the world go by just out of their reach.
-Teach your kids to tell a grown up when they see loose dogs and not approach them by themselves.
-Teach them never to pat a dog without asking first, let sleeping dogs lie, and to leave them alone when they have food or special toys.
-Dogs have a fight or flight instinct. If they cannot get away, they will defend themselves. Please teach your kids not to tease animals, and never to corner them, especially under furniture where they cannot get away.
-Teach them never to get between two dogs when they first meet or are playing. Many bites occur to kids who got in the way of two dogs just being dogs.
-Teach your children not to hug dogs. Dogs do not understand hugs and can view it as an attempt to be dominant.
-Teach your children to ask before they pet a dog, and never to pat a dog through a fence, or car window.
-Remove the dog from under the kitchen table. Dogs often view anything that falls as theirs.
-Never allow children under 5 to interact with a dog unsupervised and keep a watchful eye on the older kids.

Despite all these warning, kids and dogs CAN be great playmates and it’s alot of fun to see them together. It CAN happen and it is up to you!

Portions of this article previously printed in the Casco Bay Weekly. Used with permission.

Charlee and I will be at the Children's Museum today at 1:00 and again on August 18th for a fun, and interactive dog safety demonstration.

This is my handout that all the kids will be bringing home to their parents.
Safety demos are available at no charge for qualifying groups.