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. 

Outdoor Winter Fun with Kids

fdarling fotos

Since many animals are nocturnal or scarce, children rarely see shy and secretive animals in the wild. But animals leave their tracks and mysteries for children.
  Take a walk in your own backyard in winter or along the beach in summer.  These tracks will tell a story.
  Observe human tracks in your yard. How can you tell which way the person is going?  What are they doing? Were they taking out the garbage or delivering a package? Look at the patterns of boots and shoes soles. Observe how they are different in size, tread, and walking pattern.
  Do family dogs and cats leave tracks in the snow? Being able to distinguish between domestic dog and fox footprints is important.

fdarling fotos

Making Tracks
   Make new tracks. Drag a stick behind like the child in the book “The Snowy Day” by Keats. Take some pictures or make drawings with markers in a science. notebook. Leave some seeds and check on the spot later. Did animals visit?
  Now can you find some wild animal tracks in your backyard, park, or trail? Try to identify them before the snow is too deep. Explain to children that most animals are nocturnal. They look for food at night and sleep during the day. Their tracks in the snow are often around their homes or trails where they can find food.
  Many free animal track keys are on-line and very helpful. The book “Animal Tracks of the Great Lakes” by Stall is also a handy book.
 Show children some common tracks in your area like rabbits, squirrels, deer, fox, birds, raccoons, chipmunks, shrew, bear, and skunks. Sometimes they will be trailing each other. Why?
Decode Tracks
  When you first find a set of tracks look for the most distinct print. Note the shape of the heel pad, and count the toes. Even though adults may already know the animal, make it a scientific game. Look at the animal track key, think out loud, and eliminate animals by looking at characteristics closely.
  Take out a ruler and show children how to measure a track. Is there evidence that you have several animals, perhaps adults and young ones? Note the habitat. Why are the animals there? Does evidence show animals visit this spot often? Why?  Look around for berries and seeds.  Is there evidence your animal is a tree climber because the tracks stop there abruptly?  Follow some tracks. Where do they lead? Did the animal dig, hop sideways, or run off suddenly? Note that rabbits’ long back paws lead the way because of how they hop.
  Although there is no substitute for first hand study, it is fun to watch trail camera wildlife videos on You Tube with children. View them alone first, however.
photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest