Keep your child safe

UPDATED: 13 Dec 2011:

The incidence of children being bitten or attacked by dogs is increasing. Most of these incidents are from the family pet dog, with a very few from dogs that roam the streets. Most parents are very good at educating their children not to pet dogs in the street. However our child education needs to go a lot further than dogs in our streets and parks, as the majority of bites happen in the home. Remember bites don't only happen due to aggression.

Young children as pack leaders?

We tend to educate our children to stay away from strange dogs, yet in the home very young children are regularly left unsupervised with the family dog. You hear of dog trainers and behaviourists telling dog owners that they should ensure that not only the adults be seen as higher ranking than the dog, but so should very young children; "You should teach your young child to be the boss of your dog, so your dog respects your child" I cringe when I hear other professionals that offer this advice. Let me explain why:

Children Dog Bite Statistics
When compared with adults, annually, children are 3–5 times more likely to sustain dog bite injury (Source: Journal American Veterinary Medical Association, 2001). Annually, 50% of the people who are bitten by dogs in the United States are less than 14 years of age. (Source: Injury Prevention, 1996). Children between 7 to 9 years of age are 2 times more likely to be bitten by a dog when compared with other age groups. (Source: Public Health Reports, 1985). The vast majority of children (94 %) who sustained dog bites in the home environment are familiar with the dog that inflicted the bite, which contrasts markedly with the unfamiliarity of the child (approximately 70%) when the dog bite is inflicted in a public domain (Source: Veterinary Journal ,2006). 50% of children who sustain severe dog bite suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, which contrasts with a much lower incident of posttraumatic disorder in children who sustained less severe dog bite injury. (Source: The Veterinary Journal, 2006). Dog bites injury accounts for approximately 25% of visits by children to hospital emergency rooms in the country of Belgium. (Source : Veterinary Journal, 2006). In Belgium, the average age of the child who sustains dog bite injury in the home environment is approximately 4 years of age, which contrasts average age of 9 years for children bitten in a public domain. (Source: Veterinary Journal, 2006). In Belgium, dog bite incidents occurring in the home environment are more often preceded by direct interaction (86%) with the child as opposed to dog bite instances inflicted to children happening in public domains (31%). (Source: Veterinary Journal, 2006). For children within the age group of 5-9 years, those who live with dogs are at greater risk for dog bite injury when compared with those children who do not live with dogs. (Source: J.Dev Behaviour Paediatrics 1994).

Children Dog Bite Statistics

Below are listed some established and valid statistics regarding dog bites inflicted to children. Note, in recent years more epidemiological studies have come from European countries, and are appropriately noted. Also, different studies categorised dog bite statistical information differently, thus to some extent some of the statistical information listed below overlaps.

When compared with adults, annually, children are 3–5 times more likely to sustain dog bite injury (Source: Journal American Veterinary Medical Association, 2001).
Annually, 50% of the people who are bitten by dogs in the United States are less than 14 years of age. (Source: Injury Prevention, 1996).
Children between 7 to 9 years of age are 2 times more likely to be bitten by a dog when compared with other age groups. (Source: Public Health Reports, 1985).
The vast majority of children (94 %) who sustained dog bites in the home environment are familiar with the dog that inflicted the bite, which contrasts markedly with the unfamiliarity of the child (approximately 70%) when the dog bite is inflicted in a public domain (Source: Veterinary Journal ,2006).
50% of children who sustain severe dog bite suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, which contrasts with a much lower incident of posttraumatic disorder in children who sustained less severe dog bite injury. (Source: The Veterinary Journal, 2006).
Dog bites injury accounts for approximately 25% of visits by children to hospital emergency rooms in the country of Belgium. (Source : Veterinary Journal, 2006).
In Belgium, the average age of the child who sustains dog bite injury in the home environment is approximately 4 years of age, which contrasts average age of 9 years for children bitten in a public domain. (Source: Veterinary Journal, 2006).
In Belgium, dog bite incidents occurring in the home environment are more often preceded by direct interaction (86%) with the child as opposed to dog bite instances inflicted to children happening in public domains (31%). (Source: Veterinary Journal, 2006).
For children within the age group of 5-9 years, those who live with dogs are at greater risk for dog bite injury when compared with those children who do not live with dogs. (Source: J.Dev Behaviour Paediatrics 1994).

In the dogs world, pack hierarchy is based on energy. The more dominant the dog, the stronger the energy projected. We also feel this with humans. If you are in a room with a 'natural' leader, you can actually 'feel' his/her natural dominance. We also instinctively respect strong leadership, and do not respect weak leadership. Dogs are no different. However dogs are even more attuned to these energies than us humans. Dogs instinctively respect these energies projected by other dogs. Having your young child feed your dog, or even walk with your dog on a lead, etc, will NOT have your dog believe it is lower ranking than the child, as it is all based on energy levels, and the temperament and genetics of your dog.

ALL dogs have canines. Their mouths are shaped so they can bite. A major part of a dogs ability to communicate, play, dominate, using drives and protecting itself, is by the use of its canines. All breeds bite! I don't know how often I have heard dog owners say, "but Freddy has never shown any signs of aggression, so I don't understand why he bit my child", and yet there they are with a child scared for life. Remember not all dog bites are aggression related.. just a simple game can bring out prey drive, which then initiates biting instinct.

Dogs and puppies are social pack animals that still live by basic instincts and drives. Yes over thousands of years they have become domesticated and bonded with humans. However this does not change who and what dogs are! Very young children tend to relate to puppies and dogs as toys, and 'my fury little friend'.

Dogs don't only bite because of aggression, other drives such as prey drive initiate biting instinct in puppies and dogs.

SUPERVISE!!!

Never should a young child be left unsupervised with a puppy or dog. I don't care how well behaved a dog is. It doesn't take much for a dogs 'natural' instincts and drives to react to a child's movement, attitude or energy levels. Just a nip to grab a toy is enough to injure a child, it doesn't need to be an aggressive response from the dog or puppy.. A young child views a puppy or dog as another toy, and has no idea how to naturally take charge of a puppy or dog, or how to read a dogs body language.

For the safety of all our children, never take the risk.. "Oh Rover is such a beautiful dog, he would never bite anyone" How many times have we heard that in news reports of children sadly scared for life, both physically and psychologically.

Never leave a puppy or dog alone with a young child. A child has no idea how to read subtle changes in a dogs body language. A child can't tell when to leave Rover alone. Can't stop Rover from taking control of the game. Can never predict when a bite is about to happen, or a lunge to grab a toy near a childs face, etc, etc.

Teach young children to play correctly

Parents need to teach young children how to play with puppies and dogs correctly (always supervised). Teaching energy levels during play and how to not initiate strong prey instinct, during play. Not allowing young children to get into games of tug-of-war with puppies or dogs, as this is creating competition between the dog and child, and also there is the chance of accidental biting if the puppy or dog loses control of the toy and tries to reclaim it..

EDUCATION

We need better education in our puppy preschools. We need to get back to treating dogs as dogs. Teaching how to set rules and boundaries for our puppies. Learning how to correct our puppies the right way, and not walking away from any form of aggressive behaviour. Or trying to work out how to only positively reward our dogs and not instructing negative reinforcement methods at these schools.. We need to teach our puppies to resist any form of biting or mouthing.

However even all this training will NOT guarantee young children from being bitten if we continually insist on leaving them unsupervised with puppies or dogs!

Owning a puppy should be a pleasurable experience for the entire family. If we supervise correctly, and set rules and boundaries for our puppies and dogs, and also educate our young children on how to play correctly with puppies and dogs, then we can cut back the instances of accidental dog bites and aggressive dog bites dramatically.

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