
Dear Dog Lovers,
As a dedicated dog trainer, it is my mission to educate pet owners about the responsibility that comes with having a dog in the family, especially when children are involved. While dogs are often seen as beloved companions, it is crucial to remember that they are apex predators by nature. Despite being domesticated, there remains a potential for harm if interactions with children are not properly supervised.
Understanding the Risks
Statistics reveal a concerning reality: children are more likely to be bitten by dogs than adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year, and a significant portion of these incidents involves children, and more so to the child’s face. Research indicates that children aged 5 to 9 are at the highest risk for dog bites, largely due to their impulsive behavior and lack of understanding of canine body language.
When a child is bitten, the consequences can be more serious than in adults. Children have smaller bodies and thinner skin, making injuries more severe. Additionally, the emotional trauma associated with a dog bite can have lasting psychological effects.
Recognizing Unsafe Behavior
Parents often unknowingly allow children to engage in behaviors around dogs that are never acceptable. Examples include:
Hugging or Rough Handling: Children may see hugging as a sign of affection but many dogs feel trapped and threatened when hugged tightly. This can lead to a defensive response.
Approaching While Eating or Sleeping: Dogs can be protective of their food and space. Approaching a dog while it’s eating, sleeping, or resting can trigger a bite response. This includes keeping your children out of dog crates. It is not a playhouse for your children.
Playing Rough: Tugging on a dog's ears, tail, lips, feet or even its collar can incite fear or aggression. What may seem like play to a child can be uncomfortable or frightening for a dog.
Dogs are Not Horses: dogs are not horses that are meant to ride and carry items for their human companions. A child should never be allowed to climb on, ride or jump onto the dogs body or back whether they are laying down or standing.
Learning and recognizing canine body language is paramount. Dogs communicate a lot through their posture (body language), facial expressions, vocalizations and last but not least, their teeth. Signs of stress or discomfort—such as tail tucking, cowering, lip licking, shaking, whale eye, showing of teeth or growling—should always be taken seriously. Teaching children to recognize these signals can help prevent situations from escalating into bites. If the dog walks away it’s important to tell the child the dog no longer wants to interact and to leave the dog alone.
Setting Boundaries
Just as we establish rules for our dogs, it’s equally important to set boundaries for our children when interacting with pets.
Here are a few guidelines to enforce:
Always Supervise: Never leave young children alone with a dog, regardless of how well-behaved that dog may seem. Supervision is essential for ensuring safety.
Teach Respect: Encourage your children to respect the dog’s space. Explain that, just like people, dogs need personal space and rest.
Safe Play Areas: Designate safe zones for both the dog and the children to retreat to when they need a break from each other.
For new parents, your dog does not need to meet your newborn. Setting your infant down to your dog's face is by far one of the most dangerous things you can do, and we know parents have heard these stories on the news of infants being mauled to death by their loving family dog that never showed aggression in its life. There are always to acclimate your dog to the new addition, but essentially they do not need to meet.
The Consequences of Unsupervised Interactions
It is often said, "I never expected this to happen," after an unfortunate incident. Tragically, it is usually the dog who pays the price for the irresponsible oversight of an adult. A moment of inattention can lead to a lifetime of regret and misunderstanding surrounding the dog’s behavior.
In conclusion, as we cherish our furry companions, we must also acknowledge their innate instincts and the potential risks involved with their interactions with children. By educating ourselves and our children, we can create a harmonious environment where both kids and dogs can thrive safely and happily together.
Here are some useful links to finalize our point of this newsletter:
Thank you for being proactive about the safety and well-being of your family. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further ways to ensure harmony between your children and dogs, please feel free to reach out!
Warm regards,
Stay Safe, Stay Responsible!
Great read. Some valuable info.