Staying safe around dogs

View our leaflet, Dog safety on our website, allaboutpets.co.uk.  

Summer is a time for outdoor fun with our family and pets, but dogs and children can be an unpredictable mix. Media headlines about dangerous dogs mean many parents are understandably concerned about the safety of their own children, both at home and when out and about.

“Supervision is the key to safe child-dog interactions,” says Julie Bedford, head of animal behaviour services at The Blue Cross. "Children under the age of twelve years should never be left unsupervised with any dog, even for a few moments. No matter how well you know the animal, a dog may bite if it feels threatened or if it is very excited.”

While it is important to teach children to respect all animals, it’s essential to be calm and gentle around dogs. Animals are often frightened or upset by sudden noise and movements. Remember too, that dogs don’t always appreciate being hugged or cuddled unless they’re familiar with it from an early age.

Julie also advises: “Encourage children to keep a close eye on a dog’s body language and to watch for ‘danger signs’ that a dog might be feeling threatened or insecure. These include, licking lips, looking away, lifting a front paw, walking away, or growling.

Training starts young
Like children, dogs have to be taught how to behave. Julie explains: “Experiences during the first year of a dog’s life make all the difference to their future behaviour. Taking the time to socialise your puppy can result in a friendly adult dog that enjoys the company of people.”

Dogs are great companions, confidants and playmates to children, and with a few simple rules both can enjoy each other’s company.

For further advice and information, our website ww.allaboutpets.org.uk contains many leaflets that may be helpful to read, particularly: ‘How to play with your dog’, ‘Training your dog’, ‘Introducing your dog to the family’, ‘ ‘Nervous dogs’, and  ‘Socialising your dog’.

Also, be sure to read our top tips on staying safe around dogs:

How to make friends with a dog
• Ask the owner
• Be quiet and gentle – walk, don’t run or jump
• Give the animal plenty of space
• Only feed the dog if the owner has told you to do so
• Always call a dog to you and leave him alone if he doesn’t come (don’t pull him off a sofa, for example)
• Never approach a dog when he or she is sleeping, feeding or drinking and don’t try to remove his or her’s toy
• Never be cross. Don’t hit, smack or kick a dog
• Don’t play games where the dog chases you, or rough and tumble

How to stay safe if a dog approaches you
• Stand tall (like a tree), tuck away your hands and look away when a strange or excited dog comes up to you
• Never run away as most dogs love to chase
• If you are knocked over, curl up small (like a rock), tuck in your head and cover your ears with folded arms
• Always drop any toys or food the dog is more likely to be interested in those than you. If you are on a bike and a dog chases you, get off on the opposite side and put the bike between yourself and the dog
• If you’re carrying a bag and a dog jumps up, put the bag between
yourself and the dog