When it comes to kids and dogs, supervision alone may not always be the best way to prevent a dog bite. Recognizing the signs that your dog may be displaying, indicating they are not comfortable and worried about a certain situation could help avoid a serious dog bite.
Some pets may feel stressed or threatened in certain situations. For example certain situations can make a dog feel threatened, or nervous;
- being rush up to
- being cuddled if they are not comfortable
- tail pulling
- Having a child place their face too close to theirs
- lots of noise
- having food or a toy taken away
Most dog attacks occur within the home by the family pet, and most people say they never saw it coming. But generally a stressed dog would have given off warning signals ( other than the obvious growling), prior to attacking.
It is also important to note that a normal situation for some dogs may be a threatening situation for another dog, particularly if they may have underlying anxiety issues. For that reason kids should never be left alone with any dog.
Being able to recognize when a dog is feeling stressed or threatened is the key and it is essential people are able to pick up on the signs and intervene before it’s too late.
Parents, grandparents, friends and babysitters all need to be educated on what to look out for. No matter how “trustworthy” or safe you think a dog is, it always pays to take care and remember that kids can push dogs to new limits.
Hear are some signs to look for that often indicate your dog is scared, stressed or anxious about a certain situation.
Image courtesy of persuadedpooch.com
If you notice any of these signs you should separate the child and the dog immediately. Other tips include never allowing a child to be around a dog when there is food involved and take care if a child is in a dog’s territory (such as his bed). These can all lead to increased stress for a dog.
