by Melanie Cossey

Created on: April 05, 2011   Last Updated: April 06, 2011

Just as you would take time to teach your child about traffic safety or stranger danger, it is also important to teach your child how to respect dogs. These animals can be wonderful friends or they can pose a threat to your child's safety. It's important that your child hold a healthy respect for a dog and its space. It's a fact that children are the ones who most often sustain dog bites, and conversely, they can also injure a dog through rough play, so teaching respect benefits both the welfare of your child and that of the dog.

Respecting a Strange Dog

When out in the neighbourhood children are often intrigued by a stranger or neighbour walking their dog and wish to see the dog and pet it. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your child to a new experience but caution must be taken as not all dogs are friendly towards children. Often times a child is impulsive and may surprise you by running to a strange dog before you have time to warn him on the proper ways to approach a dog so make sure your child is familiar with the protocol before going out.

Teach your child to ask the dog owner first if he may approach the dog. If the owner gives permission, that does not necessarily mean the dog is friendly. Some owners can be in denial over their dog's state of mind and will be surprised if their dog misbehaves, so make sure your child understands that a dog may still be afraid or aggressive even if the owner gives permission. Another possibility is that a dog may be rambunctious and ill-trained and may knock over or scratch small children, so caution is needed around larger dogs.

It is important that your child be able to recognize the body language of dogs. If you child approaches a dog that is unfavourable, there could be trouble. Teach your child that a friendly dog will keep his head up and alert, and assume a relaxed stance, he will wag his tail and show a friendly interest in you. He may prance or wiggle or he may show friendly indifference, distracted by his surroundings.. This is a sign that the dog is comfortable with you and willing to be approached.

If a dog barks at you, shows his teeth, growls and assumes a tense stance with head lowered below his shoulders, while staring directly at you, this demonstrates aggression and a warning to you to keep away.

Probably the most important body language sign to read in a dog is that of fear. A dog in fear is just as likely to bite as an aggressive dog. The signs of a nervous or fearful dog are

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>