Children get bitten by dogs for many different reasons. Unfortunately the dog usually gets the blame whether it is their fault or not. In a perfect world all dogs would be socialized and well trained and children would be perfect well behaved little angles. Let’s face it folks, that is probably never going to happen. There are some things too look out for to lessen the chance of your child being bitten by a dog as well as things to do to prevent your dog from biting a child. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Contrary to popular belief dogs do not snap and start biting people. There are red flags to look for. Whether you pick up on them or not could be the difference in your child being bitten or your dog being the biter.
Dog Owners:
- Know your dog. If you have a dog that is very quiet and sensitive be respectful of that. Allowing your friends or family to bring energetic children into your home can be very stressful for even the most well socialized, even tempered dog. Kids run and yell and throw things. Basically they are like little wild animals. Just because your dog does well with adults doesn’t mean they will be good with kids so give them a safe quiet place to hang out away from the madness that children bring. Many dog bites are a result of a timid fearful dog who’s space has been invaded.
- Watch your dog’s body language. Since dogs can’t speak they show how they are feeling with their body. If your dog has his tail between his legs and won’t turn his back on a child or children chances are very high that he feels threatened. A threatened dog will bite to send the message that whoever is invading their space is unwelcome. If your dog seems like he is scared remove him from the situation before it turns bad.
- Look for “hard eyes.” A dog with hard eyes is on the defense. Hard eyes look like the dog has their eyes extra wide. They do not blink and they stare at you intently with large dilated pupils. Anytime you see your dog giving someone the eye it is best to remove the dog from the situation.
- Be respectful of your guests. Not everyone likes dogs. If someone that doesn’t like dogs is visiting your home try to keep your dog in another room, in a kennel or outside.
- Socialize your dog from an early age. All of the above scenarios can be avoided by socialization. When you expose your dog to the world they are more confident. Most bites are a result of an unconfident dog that feels its space is being invaded.
Parents:
- Always supervise your children around any dog regardless of breed. Any dog can bit, even a Labrador or golden retriever.
- Look for “hard eyes.” If you see a dog that is staring your kids down you may want to remove your kids from the situation. Not all dog owners believe their precious pooch would ever bite someone but there is a first time for everything. As mentioned above look for body language. A dog that is hiding or sticking extra close to their owner is probably upset or threatened by your kids.
- Do not allow your kids to be rough with dogs. Chasing and climbing on any dog is a bad idea. Kids also need to be taught how to pet dogs gently with a flat hand. Teach your kids that they should never try to get in between a dog and their owner. Timid dogs look to their owners for confidence. Trying to get in between a dog that is standing very close to their owner and displaying any body language such as tail between the legs or hard eyes is a good way to get bitten
- Ask dog owners if their dog has ever bitten someone or another animal just to be safe.
As dog owners it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone is comfortable in our home, including your dog. If your dog was not socialized for one reason or another, be mindful that children might upset your dog. As parents it is our responsibility to keep a close eye on our kids and to teach them how to act appropriately around other peoples dogs. Kids who live in a house with dogs also need to be taught that not all dogs are as happy and friendly as their family dog. Follow this advice and you will be less likely to end up in a situation where either your child gets bitten or your dog bites a child. Most dog bites can be prevented when you know what to look for.
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