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Children and DogsBy David the Dogman
The most frequently bitten people are children. By the age of 14, about half of all children have been bitten by a dog. The overwhelming majority of bites occur in children under nine years of age, sometimes resulting in both physical and emotional damage.
Through an understanding of canine behavior and preparation for what to do in the event of a canine confrontation, many such bites can be avoided. Most dogs are fun and safe to be with, but certain dogs, and it's hard to tell which ones, have their own set of "rules" regarding children. Whether or not we humans feel the rules of this minority appropriate, we must help our children become aware of situations to avoid.
This article is not meant to blame children if they are bitten. There is rarely a good excuse for a dog biting a person, but knowing the reasons a dog might bite, from the dog's point of view, may be helpful in avoiding bites.
Here are some statistics from Chicago and Dallas University which were based over a three year period of reported dog bites. Many are not reported. Of all dog bites of children under four years of age, most were bitten in early May. Sixty percent were bitten on the head, neck and face, 90 percent were bitten in their own home, 40 percent were bitten by their own dog and 60 percent of the dogs had no previous history of biting.
Of all dog bites of children age four to 16, most were bitten in early July. Eighteen percent were bitten on the head, neck and face, 38 percent were bitten in their own home, 18 percent were bitten by their own dog and 50 percent of the dogs had no previous history of biting.
Further studies showed that 51 percent of the infants bitten were bitten in their cots and most were bitten by their own pets. None of the reported bites were by strays, and most were not witnessed by the parents. This posed questions:
Why were the dogs allowed in children's sleeping area's? Where were the parents?Many of these potential bite situations can be avoided by providing the proper training and environment for our pet dogs. It is not, however, the intent of this article to give information on how to bite-proof dogs, but rather how to bite-proof children.
You can tell if a dog is upset.Any dog can bite, but most
won't if you act the way you should around them. The signs are: tail up,
hairs on its back raised, baring teeth and growling. If a child keeps on
doing what makes the dog angry, it might get angrier and perhaps bite. If
the dog's ears are laid back with the tail between the legs, it is scared.
It might run, but it might also bite if it cannot get away. Do not go closer
if it looks like that. If a child is bitten, he/she should try to remember
what the dog looked like and in which direction it went.
The warning body language of aggressive dogs is:Ears erect, body stiff, tail high, hackles up.
A fearful posture is:Ears back, body crouched, head low, tail tucked in.
Other signs to watch for are:Growling and barking, lips lifting, teeth bared
Dogs that have assumed either a defensive or offensive threat posture frequently have a "critical zone". A child is safe around this zone until entering the imaginary circle the dog has projected. The problem is that this zone varies between dogs and can even be different for the same dog if the situation changes. So it's impossible for humans to accurately determine the critical zone.
A defensive threat posture
is adopted by the shy or fearful dog. It is hesitant, easily frightened,
timid, tends to avoid certain persons or things. Frequently, these
traits are not noticed until the dog encounters a new situation. The dog
might assume elements of the defensive threat posture when frightened.
So how does a child avoid getting bitten?Never touch a dog when it is feeding
Do not tease a dog, its ears are not hankies.
If chased by a dog while cycling, get off. Place the bike between you and the dog. LOOK AWAY.
Avoid packs of dogs, if confronted, do not run away or scream.
Do not disturb a sleeping dog.
If meeting a new dog, pat him on the side of the face, under the chin or on the chest. Never place your head above a dog's head. Crouch down, and approach on his level.
Ask an owner if it is permissible to pat their dog. If it is, let the dog sniff your knuckles to show you are a friend.
Do not pat dogs in cars, it is a space they consider worth defending.
Do not try to separate dogs fighting, go for help if necessary.
Never approach a dog when it is chained up.
If a strange dog comes up to you, stand still, like a lamppost
Children and dogs can live happily together as long as they follow the rules we have just been through. The presence of an adult is a deterrent. Never leave dogs and children alone. Commitment, Firmness, but kindness.
David The Dogman is available for private consultations in your home, for further details telephone; Tel; (95) 2883388 Brought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet - http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare Content online.
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