It is very important for parents to teach children how to interact with animals.   Children are naturally active and boisterous, which can inadvertently startle or frighten an unfamiliar dog.  Kids need to learn how to approach or interact with an unfamiliar animal safely to avoid being bitten or more severely injured.   Knowing how to act around strange animal can prevent many unfortunate tragedies.

 First, it’s important to teach kids to ask a pet’s owner or a parent if it’s okay to approach a strange dog.   Don’t allow children to approach a dog that looks ill, nervous or aggressive or an unattended dog you have not encountered before.

Second, show children the best way to introduce themselves to a new dog.  Demonstrate extending the hand with the palm up.  Don’t grab or touch the dog until he has had the opportunity to sniff the extended hand.    Stoop or squat to be on the same level as the dog, a tall human towering over him may feel threatening or intimidating.

 Third, teach kids not to pick up or make direct eye contact with a dog they don’t know.  Dogs stare each other in the eye as a sign of intimidation.  Remind kids to use a calm tone and lower their voices to avoid startling the dog.  

Well Behave Dogs May Still Be A Threat

It’s always a good idea to be cautious around any dog that is not a member of the family.  Even the most well trained dog may not be accustomed to spending time with children, and may become frightened and act unpredictably.  Teaching kids to respect dogs and use caution around any unfamiliar animal can go a long way in preventing a crisis.

Children may be tempted to hug a strange dog, which can be very dangerous.  Dogs need personal space as much as people do, and being hugged by a stranger may make a dog feel threatened or cornered.   Additionally, children may become overly excited and hug the dog too hard, which could trigger aggressiveness in the animal.

What To Do If Your Child Is Bitten

Following these guidelines will do a lot to prevent the possibility of a child being bitten by a dog.  Unfortunately, sometimes accidents happen despite our bet efforts at prevention.  If a child is bitten by a dog, it’s important to act quickly.  Wash the wound immediately with warm, soapy water.   Call the pediatrician for advice and contact the dog’s owner and calmly explain what happened to them.

If you don’t know the dog’s owner, it’s important to try and find out where the dog lives.  It’s important to make sure the dog has received all the required vaccinations in order to treat the bitten child.   Doctors and other professionals are required by law to report a dog bite to local animal control.   The law requires the dog be quarantined for at least ten days to ensure it isn’t rabid or carrying other potentially harmful diseases.