Children And Dogs: How A Child Should Approach A Dog

May 17, 2019

children and dogs

Last time we talked about how to teach your kids to be safe around dogs. Now we are continuing with this topic and are focusing on the very act of a child approaching a canine.

What many parents tend to overlook is that, no matter how cute and goofy they are, dogs can indeed sometimes be quite dangerous, especially to kids. This is why children should be told to always ask their parent’s permission before approaching a dog.

This should particularly be the case if:

  • It is a stray dog
  • The dog is tied up outside a shop
  • The dog is currently eating
  • The dog has a toy
  • The dog is sleeping

According to lovethatpet.com – “Many dogs are ‘resource guarders’ and will bite if they feel they have to protect their possessions and territory, but are absolutely fine in most other situations.

A dog should be approached slowly with a closed hand, giving time for the dog to sniff the back of the hand.”

“If all goes well, the dog can be gently patted on the chest or rubbed under the chin. Avoid the typical pat on the top of the head, as this can be a little daunting for some dogs.

The following video demonstrates a ‘consent test’, to determine if a dog wants to be patted.”

Check out these Dog Aggression Tips To Make Your Dog TRULY A Good Boy.

Friendly Fire From Family Pets

A huge bulk of reported bites in America is actually from a trusted family pet. This may come as a bit of a surprise, especially because most fresh pet owners think that children are harmless to canines.

But the trick is that dogs (especially small ones) actually see kids as “noisy and unpredictable selves.”

This means that they can sometimes see children as a threat. See which breeds are unexpectedly dangerous to kids here!

Children tend to “stare dogs directly in the face,” say folks over at lovethatpet.com, “and are often at eye level and holding food, which can be very confrontational to your furry friend.”

“It is important to protect your dog from being in a situation where he feels that he needs to snap. He should feel that you have his back and that he does not need to protect himself or his resources.”

Check out which dog breeds that are great for families with kids!

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