dogs and kids - playing it safe

I remember when I was about 8 and I thought all dogs were friendly. I went up to pet someone’s dog and it lunged at me for a little nip - scared the crap out of me and taught me that you can’t do that with dogs. Dogs are wonderful but they can get scared or feel threatened just like anyone else. Here are some tips for parents to teach their kids about approaching dogs.

If the dog is on a leash, with an owner holding the leash, teach your child to follow these important steps:

W - Wait and watch the dog’s body language. Understand how to tell the difference among angry, afraid, and happy dogs. Dogs show what they are feeling.

A - Ask the owner for permission to pet the animal.  Wait for the owner to agree before you touch the dog.

S - Let the pet sniff you.

P - Pet the dog in the direction of the fur and be very gentle.

And be sure the child puts her hand palm up under the dog’s head so the dog can see it. They sometimes feel threatened when you try to put your hand on their head and they can’t see it.

 Here’s the rest of the article - just food for thought…

www.allaboutkidsmagazine.com