Kids and Dogs
A Common Sense Approach
By Vicki Rodenberg (Copyright by Canis Major Publications.
Reprinted by
Permission)
Question: I'd like to get a medium to large breed dog for my
familybut I'm worried. I've heard so many stories about dogs biting
children. How can I be sure that it will be safe for my kids?
Answer: You have good reason to be concerned. Statistics show
that most dog bites causing serious injury involve medium to large
sized dogs and children under the age of five years. The dog is
usually known to the child or is the family's pet.
To understand how these bites occur, what causes them and how to
prevent them, a little education in the nature of dogs and the nature
of small children is in order.
A dog's temperament is first inherited, then modified by events in
his life and proper training. Some breeds and certain bloodlines
within breeds are friendlier, more tolerant and more adaptable to
training because they were bred to be that way. A responsible breeder
wisely puts emphasis on good temperament when selecting breeding
stock. Breeders without adequate knowledge of dog behavior may not
understand what a correct temperament is and use unsuitable dogs for
breeding.
Unscrupulous breeders sometimes deliberately breed dogs with poor
temperaments. There are some dogs, just like there are some humans,
that are mentally disturbed or have an illness or physical defect
that affects their behavior. A dog's basic temperament, instincts and
training have the biggest effects on how that dog reacts to the world
around him and his levels of tolerance.
Very few bites happen without provocation -- but the provocation may
exist only in the dog's mind! We need to realize that dogs are not
little people in furry costumes. They don't think in the same way
that we do. They look at the world around them with a different
perspective. Most of their actions are instinctive. A dog will react
to situations according to what his instincts tell him unless these
instincts are overridden by the consistent training and socialization
he needs to receive from his owner throughout his life.
Here is one of the most commonly reported scenarios in a bite case: A
very young child sees a pretty dog he'd like to pet. The dog may not
want to be petted. The dog's first instinctive reaction is show his
displeasure by giving a warning -- growling. The growl means that
something more unpleasant will follow if the warning isn't
heeded.
The type and number of warnings given can vary. Many dogs faced with
a child like this would just walk away. Walking away can be
considered a warning. If the child keeps trying to pet the dog, a
sterner warning, usually a growl, will follow. Some warnings are more
subtle -- a stiffening of the body, for example. Few dogs bite
without giving some indication beforehand.
Small children (and some adults) don't recognize a warning when they
see or hear one. A very young child (under age six) doesn't know what
a growl means. What may be obvious to an adult isn't understood by
the child. The child continues to pet or follow after the dog even
though the dog has now clearly told him what will happen if he
doesn't stop.
Dogs instinctively set up an invisible "fight or flight" boundary
around themselves. The size of this boundary depends on his level of
confidence and tolerance. A fearful dog will give itself a wider area
than a more stable one. When someone who the dog perceives as
threatening or unwelcome enters that area, the dog has two choices --
it can run away or it can defend itself. If it feels that it can't
run away, it will fight instead, no matter how afraid it might be.
Some dogs will choose to fight first, rather than run.
A small child that's petting or hugging a dog has already intruded
well within the dog's flight or fight boundary, the dog's safety
zone. If the dog has tried to leave or has issued a warning with no
response from the child, the dog (in his mind) has no other recourse
-- he bites. This is normal, instinctive behavior -- to the dog. He
is responding to what he perceives as a threat and is doing what his
instincts tell him to. Remember that dogs don't think in the same way
that people do. A child's innocent action, petting the dog, can be
provocation for a bite when seen through the eyes of the dog.
There are other circumstances that can provoke a dog to bite a child.
Running, playing, screaming kids can trigger an instinctive
predator-prey reaction in some dogs. Children who rough house and
wrestle with dogs unknowingly encourage them to use their teeth. Dogs
equate this kind of play with littermates or other dogs where using
teeth is allowed. Startling a sleeping dog or petting him when he's
eating can also provoke a bite.
What can be done to prevent dogs from biting children? I feel that,
first, it's essential to understand that almost any dog will bite
under the right circumstances. Second, a dog is a dog, an animal
whose behavior isn't the same as humans and can't always be predicted
with 100 percent accuracy, no matter how friendly or reliable he
is.
Obedience training and socialization are absolute musts for a dog
who'll be spending time with children. Remember that a dog will act
according to his instincts if he doesn't receive proper training or
if that training isn't kept up through regular practice. The dog
needs to be taught to obey commands under all conditions no matter
how distracting. Just as responding to the command to "come" could
save the dog's life someday, an immediate response to the command
"leave it!" could save a child from serious injury.
Just as children need to be taught how to be well-behaved around
other people, they need to be taught to be well-behaved and
respectful around animals. They need to learn what kinds of games are
appropriate, how to touch the dog properly, how to interpret the
dog's body language and when the dog is not to be disturbed. When
they're old enough to understand, kids should be involved in the
training process. They should learn to give the dog commands and be
able to enforce them.
Adult supervision is essential! Small children should never, ever be
left alone with any dog, no matter how reliable the dog has been
before. A responsible adult needs to be on the scene to prevent any
aggressive behavior by the dog and to keep the child from putting him
or herself in danger. Telling the toddler to stay away from the dog
isn't enough! Remember that young children don't recognize when they
may in trouble. It's up to the adult to keep them safe from the
dog
and to keep the dog safe from the children. I can't stress enough
that adult supervision around children and dogs is absolutely
critical! If you can't be right there to handle whatever might
come
up or if you have any doubt about the dog's behavior around children,
the dog should be put away out of reach of the kids.
Almost all of us would agree that it would be nice for our children
to grow up with a dog. Kids and dogs are wonderful, almost an
American tradition. If you're thinking of getting a dog for the
children or already have one, here are some guidelines: Consider
postponing the purchase of a dog, especially a large one, until your
children are at least six years old.
A common sense plan:
1) Take your time when looking for a dog. Do your homework. Learn
the differences in the various breeds and choose one best suited to
your lifestyle and experience.
2) Be honest with yourself about the amount of time and work
you're willing to put into a dog. If you don't have time to raise and
train the dog properly, don't get one!
3) Buy your dog from a reputable, responsible breeder who puts
priority on good temperament and health and consistently produces
dogs that excel in those areas. Choose a breeder who's experienced
and willing to guide and advise you about care and training
throughout the dog's life.
4) Train and socialize your dog properly! Get help if you run
into problems. Don't fool yourself into thinking the dog will
"outgrow" it or that the problem will go away on its own.
5) Teach your children how to behave correctly and safely
around animals and to respect them.
6) If your children are too young to understand, it will be up to
you to physically supervise them and protect them from potential
harm. Don't take chances with their safety! If you can't be right
there to take care of a problem or if you can't control your dog or
your child -- put the dog away.
7) Remember that what your dog tolerates from your own
children may not be tolerated from someone else's. You need to take
extra safety precautions when other children visit and make sure that
the children obey your ground rules.
8) Never, ever leave a child alone with any dog, no matter how
harmless the dog seems.
Kids and dogs are wonderful together -- when adults use common sense
and put safety first!
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