Making Children and Dogs Comfortable?

The best way to make children and dogs comfortable is to educate yourself in how to approach dogs, so that your children learn the right way from the start.

One might easily conclude that children and dogs do not mix from simply becoming aware of the reality that most dog bites happen to children.

Teach your children:

Never approach a strange dog, especially one who is confined or chained. Do not let them put their fingers through the fence. That is a disrespectful invasion of the dog's space.

Always put your palm out first, and let the dog smell you. When his head drops down, he is relaxed. You can then pet him.

But start with rubbing the chest, and slowly work your way to the head. That's because a dog who is trying to put his head over another dog's head is trying to assert himself. The dog's buddy-buddy greeting to another dog is rubbing his chest or shoulder against the other dog. It's okay to rub the head after the dog senses you are friendly.

And do not put your face in the dog's face. That scares some of them.

If a dog is chasing you, stand still and give the STOP signal with your hand. The dog will stop. Move two steps forward while standing tall. Then do not move until the dog turns around. This way, he is giving you space. If you turn first before he looks away, he is likely to come after you.

Running from a dog or not addressing him makes him more powerful.

It's the responsibility of all to keep children and dogs safe. The only way that's going to work is learning the "do so's" and "do not's." More than half the dog bites in the U.S. would not occur if people of all ages followed these rules!

Rena Murray
Dog Whisper Woman