It is not uncommon to read reports in the media about dogs biting children. While many bites cause minimal damage and may not even make the news, some are so severe that the damage done is permanent. In August 2015, an eight-year-old Australian child lost her hand after a dog bite, which will adversely affect her for the rest of her life. The cost to a dog that bites is also high as they are often euthanized.
For parents, the key to keeping your child safe is supervision. Always watch them when there are dogs in the area. Ask a person if it is okay for your little one to pat their dog and respect their answer if they say no. Not all dogs welcome attention from people whom they don’t know.
If you have a dog at home, don’t let your child sit on them or kiss their face. There are a number of videos online of children jumping on dogs and putting their face close to their muzzle, and they are not funny at all. The friendliest dog in the world can still bite if they are pushed too far and do not see any way to escape.
If your child is old enough, teach them to recognize a dog’s body language that says that they have had enough and are getting anxious. Most dogs give such signals well before they resort to growling or biting. They may hold their ears back against their head; they may show the whites of their eyes and turn their head away. Many dogs also repeatedly lick their lips. If your youngster can pick up on these signals, they can move out of the way and give your dog some space before any harm is done.
Dog parents have work to do too, to make sure their pooch can behave appropriately in public and to recognize when they are stressed and need to be moved out of that environment. A well-adjusted dog is not as likely to be anxious around strangers and may be better able to put up with a child’s movements and noises. This is where puppy pre-school and ongoing training and socialization are so important. A young dog should be exposed to all the sights and sounds of the community that they live in so that they are used to it and are not worried when they are out and about.
Some dogs are nervous in certain circumstances in spite of their pet parent’s best efforts. If your pet appears to be getting stressed, it is not fair to expect them to put up with that environment. Take them away to an area where they are more relaxed so that they are less likely to snap because they are frightened or upset.
If you are concerned about your dog’s attitude to children and unfamiliar people, have a chat to your vet and ask for a referral to a behavior specialist. There are options as far as retraining them so the risks are reduced. It is not something to be complacent about; a bite causes both physical and psychological injury to a child and to a dog. A single bite can cost their life.