Being safe around dogs

There are over seven million dogs in the UK and many of them are bought for companionship and as family pets. It’s important that children understand how to behave around the dogs in their homes and in their community so they can enjoy their company and remain safe.

There are many benefits of having a dog in the family:

• Children with pets have better self esteem, empathy and social skills  
• They provide loyalty
• There is a reduction of incidence of allergies and asthma when the baby has a cat or dog in the home in their first year of life. The children should also have a better immune system.
• Petting a dog or cat can reduce anxiety and owning a pet can aid relaxation. Dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They also suffer from fewer medical problems generally.
• Walking your dog and caring for them is good exercise  
• Children can learn about responsibility, compassion and respect for another living thing

But we often hear in the media of children getting bitten by dogs. We have put together some advice to help you understand more about dog behaviour and how to teach your children to stay safe around dogs.

Why do dogs bite?

There are a number of reasons why dogs bite, including:

• they are protecting themselves or their property
• they may be in pain
• they may feel trapped
• they may have been surprised by your actions
• they may be very excited 

Remember that any dog may bite in a given situation. So it's important for the children to ‘think dog’.

How to greet a dog you don’t know

When meeting a new dog, it’s important to put yourself in their shoes. Some dogs may not be comfortable being approached by strangers in the street. But there are steps you can follow to greet dogs safely.

More on approaching dogs

What to do if a dog approaches you

If a dog you don't know approaches you, stand still and do not make any noise. If you are carrying food or toys, drop them on the floor away from you. Keep your arms folded and look away from the dog. If you need to move away, do this slowly. This will make you very boring to the dog and help them to calm down.

Staying safe at home

It’s easy for children to forget what they have been told, so it’s important that they are actively supervised when they are around dogs. this also gives you an opportunity to remind them of how to behave and make sure that both children and dogs are safe and happy in each others company.

Dogs should be left alone when they:

• are eating
• are chewing a toy  
• have puppies
• are sleeping or resting
• are in bed or under a chair or table
• are sick or injured
• trying to move away

Do not allow children and dogs to play chase or wrestling games – both are exciting and can easily get out hand and someone is likely to get hurt or upset. 

It’s also important that children are taught not to tease, poke, or sneak up and surprise dogs – this is likely to be very scary for them and may result in the dog behaving defensively.

What does your dog’s body language mean?

The following descriptions of dog actions will help you to understand what the dog is trying to tell you:

Go away

Afraid: I am afraid. I’m cowering away from you and may hide under furniture. See how my ears are flat back. I may show my teeth, snarl or growl.

Vulnerable: I don’t want my tummy tickled. I am really scared. I moved away from you and rolled on my back, and my tail is tucked between my legs. I am so scared that if you come to tickle me, I might think you are going to hurt me and I might bite.

I'm not sure about you yet (please keep away)

Unsure: I‘m moving slowly and lowering my head. My paw is raised and I may lick my lips to show I am a little unsure.

Unsure: My head is lowered and my tail is tucked away. I am looking at you sideways and may yawn to show I am not sure about you.

Unsure: I am moving away from you with my head lower than my shoulders. I have tucked my tail away and may glance over my shoulder and show the white of my eye.

Happy to meet you

Relaxed: My body is relaxed. Look how my ears are forward or relaxed and my tongue is hanging. I am wagging my tail and my body.

Playful: I am feeling playful and excited. I may want you to play with me! My front legs are forward and my back end is raised. My tail is high and wagging. I may drop my ball for you to throw.

Happy: My tail is wagging. You can tell from my face that I’m interested and alert - look how relaxed my jaw is and my tongue is hanging down.