Here are some dog safety tips:
Never leave a child alone with a dog, even if it is one you know.
Around a third of all dog attacks in New Zealand are on children under 12 years of age.
Over 70 per cent of bites come from a dog your child may know and love, so always supervise the interaction between dogs and children.
Many dogs appear to tolerate children handling them, because they are trying to be well-behaved.
It is up to the dog owner and the parent to recognise and intervene when a dog might not want to play, even if the dog is good-natured enough to allow it. Protect your dog, in order to protect your children.
Never approach a dog without permission
This applies to adults as well as children. A dog tied up outside a shop, or watching you over your neighbour’s fence, may not be as friendly as they look.
Dogs feel especially vulnerable when tied up. Unless you know the dog and can read the dog, it is safer not to approach it.
Most dogs don’t want to bite, but do so because they tried to protect themselves in other ways.
Know how to read a dog’s behaviour and body language
The best protection for you and your children is to understand when a dog might be a risk.
Being able to read body language gives you a better idea of what the dog is thinking, so you can act appropriately.
There are many myths about dog behaviour; a wagging tail doesn’t always mean a happy dog, and rolling onto their back very rarely means that they want a tummy rub.
Often, after someone gets bitten by a dog, they say that the dog gave no warning. In most circumstances, the dog tried very hard to ask the person to leave them alone, such as eye rolling, yawning, lip-licking, or simply turning away.
Unfortunately, because most people are unaware of these signs, the dog feels it has no other choice but to bite.
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