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A Walk in the Park
Teach Your Child About Animal Behavior to Prevent Dog Bites
By Lisa Marie Metzler
Although rare, there may be an occasion where your child may be threatened by a dog. The first thing to instill in your child is that she should remain calm if threatened. "Don't scream and don't look directly into the dog's eyes," says Calli Towne, community relations manager for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at Nevins Farm in Methuen, Mass. "The child should try to stay still until the dog leaves or back away slowly until the dog is out of sight. If this is not possible, tell your child to try calling for help in as calm a voice as possible." Remember, running from the dog encourages him to chase.
Towne also advises that a child knocked down by a dog curl into a ball with his hands over his head and neck to protect his face. "It's not a bad idea to practice this at home," says Towne.
In fact, talking about dog behavior with your child in a matter of fact way shouldn't scare your child from interacting with dogs, but it should enable your child to feel safer and enjoy them more. Role playing at home can be a fun way to impress dog safety upon your children. You also can use opportunities that arise at the playground or park to show your child how to safely interact with dogs.
Perhaps the best thing for parents to remember is that no matter how loveable and gentle a dog can be, it is still an animal and any dog can bite if the situation is right.
