What Should I Teach My Child to Avoid Being Bitten By a Dog?
If you have children, you are likely familiar with their fearlessness when it comes to activity. They likely walk right up to strangers, do not fear falling down and getting hurt, and see every animal as a friendly pet. It can be difficult to explain the dangers of such situations to young children since they lack the life experiences required to formulate this fear that prevents us from participating in dangerous activities. When kids see a dog nearby, they often run right up to it, sticking their hands out to try to pet the animal. However, this can lead them into dangerous territory. It is important to teach your children these cautionary measures from the start so that they avoid the possibility of a severe dog bite.Tips for Staying Safe
The carefree, fearless mindset of children can be a blessing and a curse. Since little kids are used to playing with stuffed animals, they often think all dogs are meant to be pets and played with. However, this is not always the case, especially since children can often be rougher with the animal than they think. The following are tips for staying safe around strange dogs:- Speak with the Owner: Stray dogs are not a very common sight in the northern Illinois suburbs. If you see a dog, it is likely on a leash or near its owner. No one knows a dog better than its owner, and he or she can tell you whether or not the dog is friendly to strangers. Tell your kids to always ask an owner if they can pet his or her dog and steer clear of any animals that do not appear to have an owner nearby.
- Approach with Caution: This can be a difficult lesson for kids to understand since they often run up to something when they are excited or interested in learning more. However, sudden movements or approaches to an animal can make them immediately defensive toward the oncoming party. You should teach your children to always approach a dog slowly and predictably, reaching a wary hand out for them to sniff before attempting to touch them.
- Look for Body Language: Young children likely have no idea what “body language” is, but there are ways for you to get this message across using words that they can understand. Let them know that if they see the dog’s teeth or hear it barking or growling, they should steer clear. But, if the dog is panting and sniffing their hand, they are likely familiarizing themselves and comfortable with interacting.
- Be Gentle: As previously mentioned, kids often fail to recognize just how rough they are being when interacting with pets. You should teach them how to gently and calmly interact with animals from an early age so that they are comfortable with doing so. Tell them to never pull on the dog’s ears or tail and to avoid teasing the dog. This can quickly get them riled up and cause a violent reaction from even the friendliest pets.
