Dog Safety

                

                  Dog safety is important to keep in mind when interacting with any dog but especially unknown dogs. I think many of us forget that domestic animals such as cats and dogs are still animals and require certain precautions. As adults we can read the animals body language and know if we can approach and how to approach an animal. Children on the other hand are learning about the world and need to be taught about animal dangers.

                Over the weekend my son was playing outside with our small dog Etta James and she is in season for the first time. We are new pet owners and did not realize that this would cause every unneutered dog to try and get in our yard. One dog happened to have gotten in on this particular day and we had seen him roaming around the neighborhood before and thought little of it. My son being the sweet boy he is approached the dog and was bit due to the dogs aggression or desperation to get to our female dog.  This was a tough lesson for us all to learn about animal safety but luckily the dog did not break the skin and injury was superficial. We took our son to the urgent care and they gave us antibiotics due to scratch and assured us that there had been no rabies ever reported in San Diego County.

                We now had the task of teaching our son about animal safety. Additionally we needed to make sure to explain that although this dog was bad not all dogs are. We are animal lovers and would hate for him to have this experience ruin his love for animals. Here are a few things to teach kids about dogs:

Not All Dogs Are Friendly

Although the dog may seem friendly as you walk by it does not mean it is. We should not approach unknown dogs. Sometime they are loose because they got out of their yards and are trying to get somewhere and we do not want to interrupt the mission.  Some may have just had a traumatic experience and are disoriented which may make them aggressive. Best thing to do alert and adult who should consider calling animal control if owner is unknown.

Dogs on a Leash

Dogs that are with their owners on a leash should only be approached with the owner permission. Then take steps to acquaint yourself with the dog such as allowing it to smell your hand before petting it to allow the dog to feel comfortable.

Dog Personality and Needs

Dogs all have a personality and certain needs. We dog owners can all attest to that. Children do not understand this concept and see dogs and toys sometimes. What we need to teach children are that if a dog wants to play it will approach us. When a dog is eating, sleeping or in their crate or bed they are in their own space and should be left alone. If a dog is roaming around we do not know why and should take precautions before approaching but it is best not to approach.

Dog Health

Children should be taught also that if a dog is hurt or after a female dog that we should get away from it slowly. We do not want to touch, hit or in any way agitate it but instead contact an adult who should call animal control if owner is unknown.

                This was a hard lesson learned but I am happy to share that all turned out well. I am also planning on spaying our pup as soon as she is past her season.  I hope these tips help you with your child as well. As pet parents we love our dogs/cats but our kids also need to understand their special needs. For more tips or information check your local animal control website or consult your veterinarian.

                If you have a story or tip to share please leave it in the comments till next time friends!