Prevent Household Dog Bites in Children
How to Keep Kids from Being Bitten by Family Pets
It often comes as a surprise to parents when their kids are bitten by family pets, but according to the Humane Society of the United States, “Each year, about 4.7 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs--80% of them by canines we know and interact with regularly . . .”
Young children are more vulnerable to dog bites in the household because of their size, unwary nature, and their tendency to handle pets inappropriately. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. . .“
How to Prevent Children from Being Bitten by Family Pets
To prevent children from being bitten by household pets, it’s important for moms and dads to teach them how to behave appropriately around their canine companions.
Canines are instinctively protective and should never be touched when they are eating, drinking, or caring for puppies. Kids should avoid approaching dogs that are sick, injured, or in pain, as the likelihood of being bitten in these situations is dramatically increased.
Kids need to understand that animals have feelings, and they don’t appreciate having objects thrown at them, getting their tails pulled, or having their backs used as trampolines. Family pets can quickly get fed up with these types of behaviors and respond by biting. So any type of roughhousing with dogs should be discouraged. Also, making loud noises, or touching dogs while they are sleeping can startle them and cause them to bite.
Unfortunately, youngsters aren’t always inclined to abide by mom and dad’s pet-handling rules, nor will they be able to consistently read an animal's body language, and may do something in their parents’ absence to trigger a dog to bite. So it’s important that all interactions between canines and children are properly supervised.
Other Things Parents Can Do to Prevent Dog Bites in Children
- Make sure household dogs are properly trained and socialized.
- Avoid training family pets to be aggressive towards others.
- Have pets spayed or neutered.
- Make sure dogs are exercised often.
Canines are a wonderful source of loyal companionship for children -- but given the right circumstances, all dogs are capable of biting. Teaching children to properly treat, and handle household pets is the best way to prevent them from being bitten.
References:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Accessed 6/30/08
Humane Society of the United States. Accessed 6/30/08
Science Daily. Dogs That Bite Children Have Often Not Bitten Kids Before. Accessed 7/1/08
