Kids and Dogs Dogs and children have a very special bond. Dogs can provide children with companionship and loyal friendship and in return children can provide their dog with affection and endless opportunities for activity and interaction. A family dog is often a key part of a child's formative years. By living with a dog, children also learn about responsibility, and develop nurturing and caring skills. Children with pets also generally have higher self esteem and better social skills. Whilst owning a dog provides enormous benefits for the child, parents should equip themselves with knowledge on how to counter some of the associated risks. Children and Dogs - the Risks It's not a well known fact, but young children who are bitten by dogs, most often know the dog - it's either their own, a friend's or a neighbour's dog. And more often than not, these bites occur in and around their own homes. Young children under five years of age are in the most vulnerable age group for dog bites. These bites often occur on the face, head and neck because of their height in relation to the dog and the type of play the child engages in. Much can be done to minimise the risk of dog bites around the home, and out on the street. Informing both adults and children about how to approach and behave around a dog is the most effective way of reducing the incidence and often traumatic impact of dog bites. See Dealing with Dogs. Supervising Dogs and Children Dogs and young children should always be supervised. Your dog is a pack animal- in this case the pack is the family, which has an established pecking order. Your dog sees itself as part of this arrangement, and might regard children and especially new babies, as lower than they are in the order. If it sees fit, the dog might assert its place by communicating the way it would around other dogs - using teeth, biting and mouthing. In addition, all dogs have certain common instincts and characteristics, irrespective of breed. If provoked, hurt or frightened, a dog of any breed could bite a child. Parents should ensure they model the correct behaviour when young children are learning how to interact with dogs, and should always supervise children and dogs together. Following are some tips to apply when dealing with dogs and children: Never leave your dog and young child (under 5 years) alone in the yard together Show your child how to introduce him/herself to dogs (see sheet "Dealing with Dogs") Don't allow your children to tease your dog or handle it roughly Remove your dog from excitable environments - especially children's parties where it may become overexcited or disoriented, and potentially aggressive as a result Keep your children away from a sick or convalescing dog to let it recover without interruption Ensure your dog has the opportunity to socialise safely with children Choose a breed that is suitable to your lifestyle, environment and has a good reputation with children Ensure your dog is under your control by properly training it to "sit", "stay", "drop" and "come" Arrival of a new dog into a household with children When selecting a dog that will join an existing family, preferably choose a puppy that has already been socialised with children. Older dogs should have their response to children assessed (either by a welfare organisation or vet) before introducing them to a family. Prior to the arrival of the dog, children should be taught how to behave towards a dog (see sheet "Dealing with Dogs"). Young children should be encouraged to look after one important maintenance aspect for the dog such as ensuring the water bowl is full or feeding it breakfast. Older children can learn simple and appropriate obedience activities, which not only provide activity for the dog, but also teach it that children are higher in the pecking order than it is. Arrival of a child into a household where a dog lives Ensure that your dog has had regular, safe exposure to children throughout its life. The dog needs to get used to the sound and smell of the baby before you bring him/her home. Bring home a piece of the baby's clothing and let the dog sniff it. If any adjustments to the dog's routine are imminent, such as introducing a variation on where it sleeps or the amount of time to be spent with the dog, gradually phase in these changes. Don't just interact with the dog when the baby is asleep, or lock it outside when the baby is around. This will create a negative association for the dog. Instead, rewarding the dog with praise or food when the baby is present will create a positive association for the dog. These tips will ensure you are fully prepared for all circumstances involving children and dogs - and remember, education and teaching by example are the key! Did you know? The majority of dog attacks serious enough to cause hospitalisation occur in private homes. The most common victims of serious dog attacks in the home are children aged 1 to 4 years, bitten by their own dog or a dog known to them (with the next most common age category being children aged 5 to 9 years old). Children are most likely to be bitten on the face or scalp area, while playing with, patting and feeding dogs, or while attempting to play with dogs while they are eating. More children aged 1 to 4 years are hospitalised annually in Victoria due to dog bites (42 per 100,000) than due to car accidents (25 per 100,000). Reference: Ozanne-Smith, J., Ashby, K., Stathakis, V. (2001). Dog bite and injury prevention - analysis, critical review, and resarch agenda.Injury Prevention 2001; 7:321-326.
	Responsible Pet Ownership Copyright / Disclaimer Last Updated: 18/02/2003 This site was designed and developed by KnowledgeWorks.