Kids and dogs meeting on the street can be adorable when
all goes well. Here are some tips on making that
experience as pleasant as possible.
Asking someone if their dog is friendly is a polite way of
letting them know you'd like to pet their dog. It's an
especially good way to teach children that all dogs aren't
interested in being touched by a stranger… so be careful.
No matter the weather, we all want to venture outside for a
walk in the neighborhood including our four legged friends.
While most dogs are friendly, wonderful, and playful,
every dog has the capacity to feel threatened and may react
in an unexpected way.
Since you can't judge a dog's demeanor based on its
cuteness, here are some tips so everyone gets along. Tips
for a child to approach a dog and its owner:
1. Ask the owner if their dog is friendly and if they can
pet their dog
2. Offer a back hand fist or hand out with fingers down
3. Let the dog approach the child to sniff
4. Pet a dog gently reaching from the side, not over its
head
5. Ask to offer their dog a treat as dogs remember those
who reward them
Since some dogs may not be familiar with children's sounds
and actions, it's a good idea for children to refrain from
screaming, squealing, and running. Even puppies who may
seem harmless love to nip, chew, and chase small children
which could be fun or frightening for both parties.
Some dogs perceive direct eye contact as threatening. That
might present a problem when your child is standing face to
face with them. You'll want to be close enough to all of
them to intervene if there's a problem.
Americans love dogs – we own more than 65 million of them.
Unfortunately, there are about 5 million dog bites a year
according the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC says
nearly 1 million of those bites required medical attention
with half of those involving children.
The interaction between a child and a strange dog can be a
sweet moment and an endearing one that hopefully inspires
them to make a dog a part of their family someday. By
taking simple precautions, it can be a pleasant experience
that leaves everyone with a smile on their face.
----------------------------------------------------
As the Dogsexpert, and Founder of
http://www.LeashesandLovers.com , Sheryl Matthys talks with
dog lovers on how their dogs impact their personal
relationships. Leashes and Lovers offers online
connections http://www.FetchaFriend.com where dog lovers
can search and connect around the world for friendship,
doggie playdates, same breed of dog, and possibly love!
Sheryl has two children, two greyhounds and is a certified
dog trainer.
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