Educating children about dog interactions
Read the original article here.
ARE YOUR KIDS AND DOG SAFE?
It’s hard to believe that 77% of dog bites come from a family or friend’s dog. That means that these aren’t crazy, stray, vicious dogs – they are OUR pet dogs!
While this is a really sad statistic, it does mean that WE can do something to CHANGE IT.
Contrary to popular belief, bites RARELY happen out of the blue — and your kids’ actions can play a HUGE role in how safe they are around the dogs they love and live with. All too often, miscommunication is at the root of the issue. We expect dogs to read our likes and dislikes — but often have no idea how to read theirs.
Success is ALL about education — so we’ve created a FUN way for the whole family to learn! Check out our FREE videos and posters — then quiz yourself to measure just how much you’ve learned. Then, why not bring the information to your WHOLE COMMUNITY?
There are trainers worldwide, ready and waiting, to present our fun, interactive talks to kids from preschool to elementary school age. Click here to find a presenter in YOUR area.
FOLLOW THESE 3 STEPS AND TOGETHER 77% IS A NUMBER WE CAN CHANGE!
SAFE KIDS = HAPPY DOGS. HAPPY DOGS = SAFE KIDS!
As a family, your actions can play a HUGE part in how your dog acts towards you and those they meet. The key is to learn what dogs like, what they don’t, and how to tell the difference.
Check out the videos, print the posters and BINGO — your family will know all the basics!
DOGS DESPERATELY NEED YOU TO LISTEN
Although most dogs are amazing at dealing with all the crazy stuff a family can throw their way, they still may need your help. Kids can sometimes be scary to dogs because… they’re KIDS! By nature, they’re just more unpredictable, more uncoordinated and way more likely to get in a dog’s face than most adults. So, to keep them safe, it’s YOUR job to watch and listen. Dogs use their eyes, ears, mouth, tail and whole bodies to show you how they’re feeling.
Dogs will usually communicate using their polite, subtle signs (’whispering’) but, if those are ignored, they may resort to growling, snarling or snapping (’shouting’).
Check out the video to understand the very FIRST signs dogs show when they are becoming uncomfortable.
PROTECT YOUR DOG — AND YOU’LL BE PROTECTING YOUR KIDS
Now that you know the signs, watch your dog carefully. The goal is to ensure that your dog ALWAYS feels safe around your kids, but at the first sign that they’re not — give your dog a break!
If your child is doing something that is stressing your dog, be sure to move them, far enough away, so that your pup can relax again. After all, if no one is there to protect your dog, they’re left with no choice but to protect themselves — and no one wants that!
NOW SHOW YOUR KIDS THE VIDEO
Help them understand what dogs are saying and teach them a VERY important skill: WHEN TO STAY AND WHEN TO WALK AWAY. If you keep pointing out your dog’s body language clues, showing when it is best to leave your dog alone, over time it will just become second nature to your kids (even without prompting!).
Not only will they understand YOUR dog, but being able to read body language will keep them safer around ALL the OTHER dogs they meet too.
YOUR DOG NEEDS YOU!
Knowing what a dog looks like when they’re uncomfortable is one thing, it’s another NOT to feel embarrassed by your dog’s bark, growl or show of teeth — and to want to make it go away. BUT remember, that grumble is your dog desperately trying to AVOID a confrontation. So thank them for communicating their issue instead of lashing out — and help them by creating some space!
Here’s how YOU can TAKE ACTION!
LISTEN TO and RESPECT the grumble.
Better still, try to catch those more subtle signals (whispers) that may have come before.
LISTEN. HELP. PROTECT…
AND BE THEIR HERO.
It’s not just the key to staying safe, it’s the key to a really great friendship!
HOW SAFE IS YOUR FAMILY?
CLICK HERE NOW!
You have all the information you need, take our quiz to find out… And don’t forget to share all this info with EVERYONE you know!
YOU CAN STOP THE 77!
Whether you’re teaching your own kids, your grandkids, nieces and nephews or even your neighbor’s kids who swing by from time — you are making a difference!
Go one step further and use your SOCIAL MEDIA to shout it from the rooftops! You can also spread the word by HANGING THE POSTERS in schools, libraries, shelters and even your vet and pediatrician’s office!
