Children and dogs
The most frequently bitten people are children. By the age of 14,
about half of all children have been bitten by a dog. The overwhelming
majority of bites occur in children under nine years of age, sometimes
resulting in both physical and emotional damage. Through an
understanding of canine behavior and preparation for what to do in the
event of a canine confrontation, many such bites can be avoided. Most
dogs are fun and safe to be with, but certain dogs, and it's hard to
tell which ones, have their own set of "rules" regarding children.
Whether or not we humans feel the rules of this minority appropriate,
we must help our children become aware of situations to avoid.
This article is not meant to blame children if they are bitten. There
is rarely a good excuse for a dog biting a person, but knowing the
reasons a dog might bite, from the dogs point of view, may be helpful
in avoiding bites. Here are some statistics from Chicago and Dallas
University which were based over a three year period of reported dog
bites. Many are not reported. Of all dog bites of children under four
years of age, most were bitten in early May. Sixty percent were bitten
on the head, neck and face, 90 percent were bitten in their own home,
40 percent were bitten by their own dog and 60 percent of the dogs had
no previous history of biting. Of all dog bites of children age four
to 16, most were bitten in early July. Eighteen percent were bitten on
the head, neck and face, 38 percent were bitten in their own home, 18
percent were bitten by their own dog and 50 percent of the dogs had no
previous history of biting. Further studies showed that 51 percent of
the infants bitten were bitten in their cots and most were bitten by
their own pets. None of the reported bites were by strays, and most
were not witnessed by the parents. This posed questions:
Why were the dogs allowed in children's sleeping areas?
Where were the parents?
Many of these potential bite situations can be avoided by providing
the proper training and environment for our pet dogs. It is not,
however, the intent of this article to give information on how to
bite-proof dogs, but rather how to bite-proof children.
You can tell if a dog is upset.
Any dog can bite, but most wont if you act the way you should around
them. The signs are: tail up, hairs on its back raised, baring teeth
and growling. If a child keeps on doing what makes the dog angry, it
might get angrier
and perhaps bite. If the dogs ears are laid back with the tail between
the legs, it is scared. It might run, but it might also bite if it
cannot get away. Do not go closer if it looks like that. If a child is
bitten, he/she should try to remember what the dog looked like and in
which direction it went.
The child should tell an adult who can wash the wound with soap and
water. If a doctor has to be seen, ask for a report to take to the
police. The warning body language of aggressive dogs is:
- Ears erect, body stiff, tail high, hackles up.
A fearful posture is:
- Ears back, body crouched, head low, tail tucked in.
Other signs to watch for are:
- Growling and barking, lips lifting, teeth bared
Dogs that have assumed either a defensive or offensive threat posture
frequently have a "critical zone". A child is safe around this zone
until entering the imaginary circle the dog has projected. The problem
is that this zone varies between dogs and can even be different for
the same dog if the situation changes. So its impossible for humans to
accurately determine the critical zone. A defensive threat posture is
adopted by the shy or fearful dog. It is hesitant, easily frightened,
timid, tends to avoid certain persons or things. Frequently, these
traits are not noticed until the dog encounters a new situation. The
dog might assume elements of the defensive threat posture when
frightened.
Shy dogs can be gentle, loving, obedient pets, but may try to bite
when frightened. The dog's motive is to chase that person away. The
problem is, we cannot always tell which people or actions frighten the
dog. The fearful dog may fool you by appearing brave. The dog growls
and raises the fur along the neck and back like a brave/aggressive
dog, but ears may be pinned back, body lowered, tail between the legs.
The tail may even be wagging, but a wagging tail doesnt always mean a
friendly dog. The dog might bark and stare, but then turn away, only
to turn toward you again and start all over. This dog would really
rather not deal with you and hopes to frighten you away but, if
pushed, it might bite.
An offensive threat posture is when a dog is hostile, assertive, ready
for combat, dominant and self-confident. It does so when provoked. The
dog can be a loving and loyal pet to his immediate family if given
proper training, but this type of dog can bite if challenged. The
motive is to hurt the challenging person. The problem is, we do not
always know what the dog may regard as a challenge. The
brave/aggressive dogs offensive threat posture, may include growling
deeply, raised hackles, staring, a show of fangs, standing tall with
ears and tail erect and leaning toward the opponent. If the situation
is not handled carefully, this dog might bite.
So how does a child avoid getting bitten?
- Never touch a dog when it is feeding
- Do not tease a dog, its ears are not hankies.
- If chased by a dog while cycling, get off. Place the bike between
you and the dog. LOOK AWAY.
- Avoid packs of dogs, if confronted, do not run away or scream.
- Do not disturb a sleeping dog.
- If meeting a new dog, pat him on the side of the face, under the
chin or on the chest. Never place your head above a dogs head. Crouch
down, and approach on his level.
- Ask an owner if it is permissible to pat their dog. If it is, let
the dog sniff your knuckles to show you are a friend.
- Do not pat dogs in cars, it is a space they consider worth
defending.
- Do not try to separate dogs fighting, go for help if necessary.
- Never approach a dog when it is chained up.
- If a strange dog comes up to you, stand still, like a lamppost
Children and dogs can live happily together as long as they follow the
rules we have just been through. The presence of an adult is a
deterrent. Never leave dogs and children alone.
By
David the Dogman
I've Been Frosted
