KIDS AND DOGS

"They Ain't Timmy and Lassie!"

Parts of this section are excerpts from various handouts and articles I have written over the years. You will get information about how to keep your child safer around dogs as well as how to prepare your dog for a new child. No matter how well trained your child and dog appear to be, this is no excuse for lack of supervision: kids are kids, dogs are dogs. They will forget at times!

 

Before we go on, ask yourself a few questions (yes or no):

    1. Do I stop my child from running and screaming around dogs?

    2. Do I make sure my child asks permission before touching a dog?

    3. Do I stop my child from hanging over or reaching through fences to touch neighbor's dogs without permission?

    4. Do I prevent my dogs from sleeping with my infant or toddler (include napping on beds) if I am not in the room?

    5. Do I allow my child to walk over my dog, grab ears, tails, feet, etc. and pull?

    6. Do I allow my child to wrestle or play rough games with the dog?

    7. Do I think it is cute when the puppy grabs feet or hands and pulls?

    8. Do I allow my dog to chase and try to catch my child?

    9. Did I take the time to "proof" my dog and increase his tolerance to hands that may not be as gentle as they should be?

    10. Did I take proper steps to begin socializing and training our dog long before we had children? (If your dog was first.)

    11.  Did I take steps to prepare the children for a new dog and carefully choose the breed, type and source of the dog?

    12.  If my dog has puppies, do I allow kids to take the pups out whenever they want?

    13.  Do I allow my child to dangle food over the dog's head, tease it, etc.?

    14.  Do I allow my child to grab things away from the dog?

    15.  Do I allow my child to run up and physically wake a sleeping dog?

     

    Click here to see how you did.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

                                                 1 - 4 should all be YES. 

                                                 5 - 8 should all be NO.

                                                 9 - 11 should all be YES.

                                               12 - 15 should all be NO.

If any of your answers are different, then you are putting your child at greater risk of being bitten.

 

Click here and let's look at how to increase child and dog safety!