Animals – Child safety around dogs

Dogs can be wonderful mates for children, offering friendship, loyalty and joy. I was lucky to have wonderful doggo Daci, who was eight years older than my son, but as my infant became a hectic three-year-old, I researched how I could alleviate the risks associated with dog-kid interactions, because clearly ‘training’ a small human is not as straightforward as I thought it would be! In doing so, I became aware of some key points for child safety around dogs.

An educational app

I found an amazing interactive adventure app named A Dog’s Story created by Pedigree. The app offers an engaging way for even the very young to learn about dog behaviour and safety. Through interactive storytelling and games, within an animated magical ‘world’, the app teaches eight important lessons for interacting with dogs, and we found it very helpful, especially since my son would often meet other dogs through my vet work.

Understanding dog body language

One key to acting appropriately around dogs is teaching children about dog body language, such as recognising signs of discomfort like growling or a stiff body. How to first approach any dog is emphasised by the app, along with teaching that dogs have a personal space and how our actions impact the dog’s behaviour. This knowledge helps children to avoid actions that might upset a dog.

Supervise interactions

This helps you intervene quickly if a situation escalates, preventing potential incidents. Good old redirection works for both kids and dogs. Within the app there are resources for parents and educators, including tips on supervising interactions and strategies for teaching safe behaviour in various scenarios.

Lead by example

Children learn by observing adults, so show them how to interact appropriately. How to say “sit” is a great start. I also would say “thank you” when Daci sat, or did as she was asked, which taught good manners all round. Leash walking and showing a dog can “heel”, or yield to pressure on a leash to walk alongside, are also great practical lessons. Showing your child how to walk your dog on a leash (even around the back yard) provides a safe activity, and is a great bonding exercise.

Managing rough play

This can be difficult to avoid with boisterous kids, but the main thing I learnt with my “stick dog” was to make sure stick and ball play is highly supervised. Kids will often wave the stick in front of their own body or face, so encourage them to keep dog toys away from their face.

If families enhance their understanding of dog this helps ensure kids coexist safely with dogs. Emphasising education, with clear and even very basic dog training alongside this, helps create a happy environment where everyone can have fun.