Dogs are part of children's social environment; in France, there are over 7 million dogs. Children encounter them daily, whether at school, on the street, at home, or at friends' houses.
But have they learned how and when to approach them, as well as how to understand them?
This question is very important because we now know that the presence of a dog is very beneficial for a child's development, but what we know less is that every year in France, 22,000 cases of bite injuries lead to hospitalization.
Children aged 4 to 10 are the most affected, and 50% of the injuries are to the face or skull in 5 to 9-year-olds.
That is why it is very important to never leave a child unsupervised with a dog, even if it is your own and the sweetest in the world
Why? First of all, a child does not know how to read and interpret a dog's warning signals correctly, such as growling, raised hackles, or bared teeth…
At times, the child may also be too rough and too energetic in the presence of the dog, which could irritate or excite it.
It is very important, for their safety, to teach them the appropriate behaviors to have around dogs, which are, like us, sensitive beings!
In general, a child should never, I repeat NEVER disturb a dog when it is eating, sleeping, playing with a toy, or with another dog.
The dog's bed should be a no-go zone, and the child should never surprise the dog!
If your dog has its own space and knows it can be left alone there, it will help avoid bites due to irritation.
It is your duty to explain to your child that an animal deserves respect, that it is a living being, that it can be scared and feel pain just like us!
Except that unlike us, a dog does not speak, and when it is in pain, it will not say "Ouch!", but will try to escape or, if it feels trapped, it will "bite".
How to approach a dog on a leash?
You should not let your child hug the dog or pick it up…
If the person says NO, it is for a good reason; they know their animal, and you must respect that and ignore it for the well-being and safety of everyone.
If your child encounters a dog off-leash?
Here is what they should absolutely not do:
- Never run towards the dog: it may feel threatened and want to defend itself.
- Never shout in front of a dog: dogs hear much better than we do; they may get scared and want to bite.
- Never run away: The dog might trigger its predatory instinct and see the child as a "rabbit," knocking them down to catch them.
Do not hesitate to contact a professional to explain to your children the proper behavior to have around dogs as well as canine language.
