Children and Dogs

Children can form wonderful relationships with dogs, and it is especially lovely to see this when the dog changes the child’s life for the better.  Dogs bring so much joy into all our lives though there isn’t a year goes by without a news report of a child getting badly bitten or worse by their or a friend’s family dog.

Between 2015 and 2018, hospital admissions for dog-related injuries averaged at 8,000 per year in the UK, with children and young people (under 18 years old) making up around 21% of these, that’s approximately 5,000, and these are only the reported cases.

Dogs can find small children very scary indeed.  This is because they are on the dog’s level, they can be very noisy, and they move erratically, so they act completely differently to a human adult. If your dog isn’t used to young children, you will need to watch them carefully if they are ever in their company. If you are ever in any doubt, then keep your dog in a separate room for the duration of the child’s visit.  This will keep everyone safe.  Always supervise young children around dogs, even if you have a dog with a really laid back personality, and always be aware of your dog’s body language.  Take a look at the picture below.

Teaching children how to behave around dogs is so important.  Below is a list of things you can teach your child about dogs as they grow up, so they will know always how to behave appropriately around them.

• Never go up to a dog, always call them to you.
• Never look into the dog’s eyes, he may take it as an invitation to attack.
• Never disturb a dog when he’s eating and never try to take his food away, he may defend it instinctively.
• Never approach a sleeping dog, or wake him with a start, his natural instinct may be to bite first if startled.
• Don’t go near his tail, don’t pull it or step on it. He uses it to express his feelings.
• When you play with a dog don’t pet him near his teeth. He likes to hold onto things and it could be your fingers.
• Don’t ever get into a tugging match with a dog. Don’t chase him if he has something you want, just walk away or offer a tasty treat in exchange.
• Never try to separate fighting dogs, go and get help from an adult you know.
• You have two hands but he has only his teeth to hold onto you. Often you may think he wants to bite, but he may just want to hold on to you.
• Always ask the owner’s permission first if you can stroke their dog, even if he looks kind, don’t approach him. If they say yes then ask his name and call him to you, then if he wants to come to you he will.
• No two dogs are the same, you have to get to know them. Treat them kindly and gain their respect.
• Treat a dog as you would like to be treated yourself, don’t pull their ears or tails. NEVER shout at them, they don’t forget how you treat them.

Finally, just a note on breeds.  Most people think that dogs such as Staffies, Rottweilers or German Shepherds are not suitable as family dogs, and that dogs such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers and more recently the Poodle crosses, are the perfect choice for families with young children.  The reality is that quite a lot of dog bites are from these breeds, they are medium/large dogs and can give a serious bite.  It is the dog’s personality that is the most important thing, not the breed.