Helping to Prevent Dog Bites to Children

78 Million Dogs in the US - Stay Safe!

There are about 78 million dogs in the United States. Chances are children either have dogs or will meet them often. The CDC records 4.5 million bites each year and sixty percent are to children under the age of 15 months. Each day about 1,000 people require ER care.

  Pet experts have recommendations to help keep children
and animals safe. Young children should never be left alone with any dog, even the most trusted pet. Children are scary. They have jerky threatening movements, little fists, and shrill sudden squeals. Older children can be trained and demonstrate competent dog handling skills, knowledge of canine communication, and share a long established relationship based on mutual understanding, love, and respect. 

Teach the Kids

  Families can educate children about how to behave and recognize bite risk situations. First, avoid any animals with no owner present. If a dog is tied up outside a door, keep walking no matter how cute, whether a stranger’s, a relative’s or friend’s dog.

  If the owner is around always ask, “Is the dog friendly? Does he like children? May my children pet him? How?”  Approach calmly with a flat hand only if his tail is wagging and he has a slightly open mouth, has a soft, relaxed, happy face, and a wiggly body.

Learn About Dog Behaviors

  If the tail is between his legs or standing straight up and mouth is closed with tight lips, ears forward, intense look, hard body or seems unenthusiastic, say thank you and walk on. If everything is ok, pet gently on the side of the neck.

 Avoid Risky Acts

When children visit a house with a dog, ensure that the dog will be supervised. If walking and encounter a dog that is loose, seems excited or aggressive, teach children to be a little tree with no branches. Stop. Fold your branches (hands) and watch your roots grow (look at your feet) and count in your head until the dog goes away or help comes, experts advise.

Avoid Rough Play with Dogs

  Never pet a dog behind a fence, in a car, or crate. Never bother a sleeping, sick, old dog, or one with puppies, one that is eating, drinking, or chewing. Never approach a dog on furniture or a bed. Dogs are very choosey who hugs and kisses them, a major cause of facial bites.

   Do not break up dogs fighting. Never pet a service dog. Never take something away from a dog or put your face in his face. Avoid rough play with a dog. He may decide “Enough!” Teach children to "be a rock" if the dog actually jumps on them or knocks them down. Curl up and protect face and neck with hands and arms.

If a bite occurs, seek medical care.  For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com or wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons podcasts and live. 

Special Gardening Teaches Responsibility

Responsibility Grounds Kids

If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.

-   Abigail Van Buren

One way to teach age appropriate responsibility is to grow some tolerant plants that require little care for little children.

Outdoor Garden

  If you are planting a summer family garden select plants that germinate quickly, produce a crop quickly, and require minimum maintenance other than watering and feeding. There are a few plants that follow those criteria: snap peas, sun flowers, radishes, marigolds, 

Select Plants 

cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, carrots, and potatoes. Read and follow the directions on the package together. Examine the seeds and explain that there is a plant inside. Set plants are also available.

   In the case of potatoes explain that they are tubers, the swollen parts of underground stems. When you plant these tubers, the eyes (stems)will grow to create a new plant. Petunias, pansies, and fragrant herbs are also good choices for young children.

   Families can teach care based on needs like appropriate soil, sunlight, nutrients, enough water on a consistent basis, feeding, and protection from animals, insects, and weeds.

Planting Succulents

  Succulents can be enjoyed year around indoors and are very tolerant. There are 6000 varieties in 25 families. Some of them have flowers. They are beautiful, interesting, and sometimes strange looking arid plants so let the soil completely dry out like a dessert. Then water them like a sudden rain storm one evening and let them totally dry out again for weeks or months.

  To plant, find a large wide bowl or pot preferably with a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Mix a little sand in the potting soil to make it more porous and choose from a large variety of succulents. Children can plant a number of small ones and add tiny natural gravel or stones on top of the soil. They can add a few Lego people, too.

 Avoid high temperatures though.

Enjoy Succulents Year Round

Some of the most popular are hens and chicks, the multi colored rose shaped echeveria, burro’s tail, panda plant, spikey aloe, kalanchoe that has babies on the end of its leaves, curly succulents, rows of beads, baby toes, and many color choices. Succulent cacti should probably be avoided until children are much older.

  The most enjoyable part of succulents may be visiting stores with children and adding to the garden. Tiny ones are usually inexpensive and make great gifts.

 However, if your children like to water, try another child friendly plant like bamboo, not succulents. They come in many varieties and shapes and are fast growing. Whatever the choice, young children will be able to watch over and care for their plants with probable success.

  For more ideas to nurture responsibility see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons pod casts and live, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos