National Dog Bite Prevention Week helps shed a light on how to teach children to understand doggy body language and the danger of ignoring warning signs.
We teach our kids about the importance of good table manners, to always say please and thank you and to play well with others. But during National Dog Bite Prevention Week, we take a look at stats provided by one of North America’s most well-known insurance agencies, and it’s clear that what we aren’t teaching them is how to interact with doggies.
In 2013, State Farm paid nearly $115 million as a result of 3,500 dog-related injury claims. Over the past five years, the insurer has paid $528 million for similar claims and according to the American Humane Association (AHA) the majority of emergency room treatments for dog bites involve children.
Related:Liam J. Perk Foundation: Dog Safety Awareness And Education For Families
While the numbers don’t flag whether these instances involve the family pet or a stranger dog, its important parents understand that even well trained, gentle pooches are capable of biting when provoked – especially when eating, not feeling well, sleeping or caring for her puppies. And the sad truth is that a nasty bite can produce two victims; the injured child and the dog who may be unfairly labelled and abandoned or euthanized by the owner.
Bounding to the rescue is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), introducing new educational programs for pet owners of all ages including engaging YouTube videos and podcasts.
Related: How To Introduce Your Dog To A New Baby
Think your kids know better? Partner organization, “Prevent The Bite” recently surveyed 710 children on 12 key things to do and not to do in various situations with dogs. Guess what? Not one kid answered all 12 correctly. Here are some of the rather concerning results:
- No .
- No .
- Yes .
- Yes .
- NO !
As parents and educators, we’re responsible for teaching children how to properly interact with dogs. It’s time to incorporate the following AHA Dog Basics into your Miss Manners courses on proper behaviors for kids.
It’s up to you to teach your kids to
For Dog Owners
And just like we humans, animals are at their crankiest when they aren’t feeling well so be sure to take your little buddy in for regular veterinary care to ensure he’s always feeling his best.
A must-read for new parents is AHA’s free online booklet called “Pet Meets Baby”. It provides comprehensive information on introducing a new child to a home with a pet – or a new pet into a home with a child. You can download the booklet for free on the AHA website. Plus, there are plenty of tools you can use with your children (again, free for the taking) by clicking on Prevent The Bite page.
Mary Simpson is a writer and communications professional from Port Credit, Ontario. A soft touch for anything stray, she shares her century home with an eclectic collection of rescues that include orange tabby Chico, tuxedo Simon, and jet black Owen. She enjoys running, politics, exploring the wine regions of Niagara and is an avid supporter of the “shop local” movement.
