Bite prevention for kids

Something I found on the net and wanted to share with everyone. Dog bite incidents are very often in the news but not how to prevent them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Veterinary Medical Association, most dog bite victims are children, and most bites are by the family pet or another dog known to the child. More dogs are euthanized for behavior issues, including biting, than any other cause. 


We can help children and dogs by teaching kids and families how to read dog body language and act safely around dogs. Promoting clicker training as a hands-off way of building a bond of love and respect between child and dog is an excellent approach.

Doggone Safe is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to dog bite prevention through education and to dog bite victim support. More: http://www.doggonesafe.com/

Trees are boring to dogs. Be a Tree and a dog will just sniff and then go away. When was the last time you saw a dog chasing a tree?

Be a tree in any of these situations:


A strange dog comes near you (even if he seems friendly).


Any dog is making you feel uncomfortable, worried or scared.


A dog is chasing you.


Your own or a friend's dog is acting too frisky or excited.


Count in your head to the highest number you know and then start back at 1 again until the dog goes away or help comes.


Most dogs do not intend to scare or bite people, but they do like to investigate new people. Most dogs will chase a person who runs and will get more and more excited the more the person runs. Shouting or screaming is also exciting to dogs and can frighten some dogs. Being still and quiet is the best way to show a dog that you mean no harm and that you are not going to play with him or threaten him.

Links: Tools for Dog Bite Prevention Week 2008 by Joan Orr