You’ve seen the videos – adorable moments with kids hugging dogs, cuddling with dogs, and even climbing on dogs. What they don’t show is the thousands of children bitten by dogs every year during these kinds of interactions.
Children aged 5 to 9 are bitten by dogs more often than any other age group, and the most common place for them to be bitten is on the face and neck – don’t let your child be next.
Do I really need to worry if it’s a friendly dog?
Children can be noisy and unpredictable, which is stressful for dogs who aren’t used to them. Often, parents assume that a “friendly” dog would never bite a child. But any dog can bite when they feel threatened or experience pain.
Following these guidelines can keep things calmer and more controlled, which means that dogs are more likely to feel comfortable around visiting children.
If you have a dog and children will be visiting you, or if you have children and you’ll be visiting a home with a dog, read this whole article before they meet.
Give the dog a safe space
- Nervous dogs should be kept in a separate part of the house, away from the noise and activity.
- Keep the dog in a gated area or crate if they might get into food or toys they shouldn’t have.
- Even if the dog is happy around the children, give them regular breaks (outside or in another part of the house).
- Keep children away from where the dog eats, rests, or sleeps.
Teach children how to treat dogs
- Children should not try to take a toy or food from a dog.
- Teach kids not to hug or grab a dog, since dogs might feel like they’re being threatened.
- If the dog leaves, let them go without being followed. Playing or getting attention should be their choice.
- Never allow a child to climb on a dog. This can hurt the dog or make them feel dominated.
- Never let a child (or an adult!) give a dog food without asking the dog’s owner if it’s OK. Dogs can have food allergies, and some human foods are toxic to dogs.
Introduce one child at a time
- Bring the child to a quiet space to meet the dog calmly.
- Let the dog come to the child. If the dog isn’t interested, leave them alone and try again later.
- Look for signs of stress in the dog and end the meeting if you see them:
- tucked tail,
- yawning,
- whites of eyes showing,
- looking away,
- snarling or
- growling.
- If the dog looks comfortable, let the child gently stroke the dog’s side or back. Avoid stroking the top of the head.
Always supervise children around dogs
- Even child-friendly dogs should be supervised with kids. Never leave dogs and children alone together, even for a few minutes.
- If the dog tries to move away from the children, end the play session.
- Ensure the dog is not interrupted by children while eating or chewing on a toy.
- If you see any of the signs of stress listed above, move the children away from the dog.
- If the play is getting chaotic, remove the dog so that they don’t get overstimulated or accidentally hurt and bite a child.
Dogs and children can be the best of friends, but they have to get to know and trust each other first. Teaching children about safe ways to interact with dogs should start as early as possible, as soon as a child is mobile.
You can find more advice on teaching children how to behave around dogs on the K9 of Mine website. And if you’re thinking of adding a new dog to your family over the holiday season, read this post to see our tips.
