TEACH CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND DOG LANGUAGE

Generally, children who own family pets tend to learn to take responsibility at an earlier age and dogs can have a very positive impact on children with learning disabilities.  Also, most children have a natural affection towards animals, particularly dogs, and enjoy stroking dogs, but it is very important that children know and understand how to safely approach and interact with dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes.

However, man and dog have very different methods of communication with their fellow friends and other members of the same species, so when trying to communicate with each other, man to dog and dog to man, misunderstandings and misinterpretations on both parts are likely.  Hence, it is very important that children are taught from a young age how to behave responsibly around dogs, with proper supervision and education.  Even if children do not have a pet dog within the family, it is important that they know and understand how to react and interact with dogs.

Children need to learn how to be safe when around dogs, whether the dog is the family pet or a loose dog in the park; children must be taught how to recognise and assess different situations in which they may find themselves in the company of one or more dogs, either in the home environment or when they are out and about.  This knowledge should then hopefully minimise the risk of triggering a dog bite, of which most dog biting incidents actually occur in the home.

Adult responsibility

Sometimes dogs may appear unpredictable, but often there is usually a reason to explain their actions.  Adults and children need to understand canine body language so that a correct assessment and interpretation of each situation can be made.  This vital knowledge will help to minimise the possibility of either child or adult ever being bitten by a dog.

Unfortunately, some people, both children and adults, are afraid of dogs.  This could be because the child or their parents are unfamiliar with dogs and not used to being around dogs.  A distrust of dogs may even be as a result of a bad experience or misinformation from other people or the media.  Whatever the reason, it is very vital to realise that the occurrence of serious incidents is very rare: it is important to increase a child’s confidence by teaching them to understand and know how to correctly interact with dogs in a variety of different circumstances, as this will decrease the chance of an dog related biting incident.

In general, nearly all biting accidents are preventable and are very often determined by the behaviour of the child, or adult, prior to the incident.  However, it must also be remembered that all dogs may bite, although a dog’s tendency to bite does depend on a variety of factors, such as its medical and behavioural experiences, its socialisation skills and the victim’s behaviour toward the dog, as well as its genetic make up.  No dog is 100% safe with anyone, although through education, nearly 100% of accidents are preventable.

Children are small in comparison to dogs, so dog bites to children that might not even break the skin of an adult tend to be more serious.  Therefore, the highest risk of a serious dog bite is to toddlers.  

The incidents of dog bites are most common in the 5 - 12 age bracket and three quarters of these reported incidents occur with the family dog or a dog known to the child.

Children under 5 years of age require constant adult supervision, as they do not recognise danger.  Children under 8 years of age will often react and interact with dogs in a way that could result in a dog bite.  However, the age range that most often receives dog bites is the 8-12 year olds.  This age group of children may become complacent in their behaviour when around dogs they are familiar with, but are usually more careful with dogs they do not know.  This explains why most dog bite incidents are by a dog known to a child.  Fortunately this is the age range most likely to respond to education.

Safety around dogs - how should my child interact with pets?

It has been well documented that dogs can help enrich the lives of many people, including children.  Therefore, it is important to teach people, including children how to be safe when in the presence of dogs, whether the dog is known to you or unknown to you.

Children need to learn and understand about responsibility, in addition to being taught how to respect and interact safely with dogs.

Not only do children need to be taught how to recognise characteristic behaviours in dogs, they also need to be able to differentiate between and understand what is appropriate and inappropriate human behaviour around dogs.

Generally, unless taught to interpret and read different dog behaviours, children do not recognise warning signs and tend to misread many situations.  For example, in one study, a wagging tail was taken by children between 5-9 years to mean a friendly dog despite the fact that the dog may be barking, growling or baring its teeth.  Very young children, for example children of 5 years old do not innately recognise either by sight or sound that a growl is a warning signal, hence they do not necessarily react with an appropriate response.

To protect both your child and your pet, it is vital that an adult supervise all pet-child interactions.  It is also important, before you bring a pet into your family, to set up and enforce rules regarding proper pet care and explain to children why this is necessary.  For example, tell your children not to pull the animal’s tail, ears or other body parts and insist that they never tease, hit or chase the pet.  Teach children how to properly pick up, hold and pet the animal.  It may be helpful to explain that even the most friendly pet will have its limits and that all animals must be treated with care and respect.  Help your child to understand that:

• Pets need space and may not always welcome human attention, especially when they are eating, playing with their toys or resting.
• Pets may become upset by too much stroking or stimulation. Teach your child to heed warning signs (such as hissing, lip curling, retreating and growling) that indicate her animal friend wants to be left alone. Explain how some pets may feel threatened when stared at, cornered, or hugged.
• Other people’s pets may feel uncomfortable near children or if approached by children: it is important to tell your child to get permission from an adult before touching another person’s pet.
• Animals in pain may lash out or bite anyone who tries to touch them.  Teach your child to leave an injured pet alone and to immediately notify an adult if a pet is sick or unwell.
• Some dogs get excited and may even become a danger when children scream and run.  Teach your child how to behave appropriately when around dogs.
• Dogs in yards or cars may try to protect their territory if approached, so teach your child not to tease or get close to them.

It is vital that children, as well as adults, are taught to understand and interpret canine behaviour and body language.

Understanding dog behaviours and postures

Dogs have highly developed senses in comparison to humans.  Dogs can hear sounds much more acutely and at a higher pitch than people.  A dog’s strong sense of smell is used for recognition of other animals, objects and places and for exploring.   However, dogs do use body postures and body language, involving their ears, tails and faces as well as their body trunk, to communicate.

Understanding the dog’s basic social structure will help with the understanding of a dog’s behaviour and how the dog communicates.  Dogs live in a ‘pack’, which has a well developed hierarchy system.  Pet or domesticated dogs regard their ‘pack’ as the family or household within which they live.  A dog’s status in this ‘pack’ is achieved as a result of interactions between family/household members and the dog.  For example, which ‘pack’ member eats first and where does each member of the ‘pack’ sleep; a high-ranking ‘pack’ member will eat first and sleep in the best or highest place.  If the ‘pack’ social structure is, unwittingly, “mismanaged”, some dogs may try to become the ‘pack’ leader in the household and problems will arise.  Therefore, it is important that the dog is kindly, yet firmly, taught where its position is within the ‘pack’ or family/household, and that it is a lower ranking position, soon after his introduction to the household.  If all members of the ‘pack’ or family unit understand the basic canine hierarchy system, it will help them to understand the reasoning and how to reinforce the role of the pet dog and its position in the family unit.

Although the responsibility for ensuring that the family dog is well behaved and obedient must lie predominantly with an adult of the household, children do need to be aware of their role and also understand the importance of their position within the social structure of the family ‘pack’.  Children can help by reinforcing their higher-ranking status, above the pet dog, and also by encouraging appropriate behaviour in the dog.  The undertaking of every day actions of household members can help to remind the dog that the owner or children of the household are one of the pack leaders, for example;

• try to ensure that all of the household members walk through doorways in front of and before the dog,
• do not encourage the dog to get on beds,
• do not feed the dog at the dinner table and try to make sure that the dog eats after you/other household members, even if, for example the household tends to eat late in the evening, it means eating a biscuit before the dog receives his dinner, so that the dog can see you eating first. 
• if playing a game with the dog such as retrieving balls or dog toys, remember to put the ball or dog toy away once the play session has finished.

Dogs respond well to praise, so reward your dog when he does what he is told and always talk to him in a friendly voice.  If, for whatever reason, the dog misbehaves, advise children to fold their arms and ignore the dog completely and then to call for an adult.  A dog should never be shouted at or hit as this is cruel and may only confuse the dog.

It is important to remember that a puppy’s future and well-being is dependant upon receiving the correct care, training and socialisation during its first 6 months, which is a responsibility of the owner to ensure; looking after a puppy is time consuming and owners must be able and prepared to spend a lot of time with them.

Do you speak dog – posture recognition?

Dogs speak through vocal noises and body postures which are very subtle.  By teaching children the sights and sounds that dogs use to communicate, this can help children to better understand dog behaviour, interpret the dog’s ‘language’ and work out what dogs may be feeling or trying communicate:

• Paw up, slow wagging tail, ears up – would you like to play with me
• Bowing down, fast wagging tail, ears up – do come on and play with me
• Head and ears low, tail between legs, crouching and avoiding eye contact – I’m scared, please leave me alone; fearful, scared, care dog may bite if approached
• Laying on back, tail between legs, ears down or placed backwards, rolling on side and displaying abdomen – I know that you are the boss, but please be gentle; submissive behaviour
• Tail up (may be wagging slowly), ears forward, stiff body and standing forward on toes, hackles may be up and teeth may be showing, growling – care I may bite, leave me alone and keep away from me; dominant behaviour, care dog may bite if approached

Remember, a slow wagging tail can be both a warning and a greeting.  Some very worried or anxious dogs can wag their tails, but these very worried dogs may snap or bite out of fear.

However, only rarely will a dog bite without warning.

Some of the mannerisms of the dog that indicate it may bite can be very subtle, where as others are more obvious.   However, in all situations of dog biting incidents, the person’s behaviour usually plays a significant part.  There are a number of circumstances which are known to be more likely to cause a dog to bite, for example, dogs can bite when they are restrained (especially by strangers), when frightened, shy or injured, playful or over exuberant.  Dogs can also become over-protective of food, bones, toys, sleeping areas, cars, houses, gardens, offspring and owners.   This knowledge may help to explain and understand why most dog bites to children happen in the dog’s own home, whether that is the child’s home or that of a friend, relative or neighbour.

Remember, most accidents involving children and dogs occur as a result of a lack of understanding and inappropriate behaviour around the dog.  There is no such thing as a 100% child safe dog.  All dogs have the ability to bite under certain circumstances, although most accidents can be avoided. 

It is important that children are made aware of the following points:

1. Some dogs will instinctively want to defend their territory.  Strangers should therefore never enter a property where a dog is unattended or approach a dog when it is tied up, sleeping or eating.  Therefore, for example, if a child’s ball has mistakenly entered a neighbouring garden where there is a dog in the garden and the owner is out, the child should be taught to never enter a property where a dog is unattended, but to wait until the owner is present so that they can be asked to return the ball.
2. Sudden noises and movements, such as screaming, shouting or clapping, may frighten or anger a dog.  A dog that has become nervous or feels threatened may bite.
3. Some dogs will instinctively chase a moving animal, person or object.  Children should never run away from a dog or play chasing games with a dog.  If you or a child is concerned about a dog that is nearby, you should simply stand still and try to remain calm and quiet.  The dog should then lose interest and leave.
4. Never approach an unknown dog.  It can be difficult to identify whether or not a dog is friendly, as the hackles (raised hair along the back of the dog which indicate anger) are not always easily visible in all breeds of dog.  Remember, a slow-wagging tail can be both a warning and a greeting.

To summarise:

A Child’s Dog Wise Code:

• Never touch a dog without asking the owner first
• Always keep away from busy dogs, bored dogs, dogs that are ill, or dogs that are tied up.
• Never touch a loose dog
• Never make sudden movements when close to a dog.  Keep calm and quiet around dogs.
• Never tease a dog.  Never pull its ears, tail or fur. 
• Only play with a dog when an adult is nearby.
• Never walk the dog on your own - go with an adult
• Do not kiss or put your face near a dog – even your own dog.  Never let a dog lick your face.
• Never touch a dog that is sleeping or eating or that is tied up.
• Don’t cuddle your dog too much – remember that dogs can feel smothered too.
• Never eat when close to a dog.
• Never go near a dog when it is on its own territory.  If your ball accidentally goes over someone’s fence, always ask an adult for help.  Do not attempt to get the ball back yourself.  Remember that dogs defend their own territory.
• Never stare at a dog
• Never leave a young child alone with a dog
• Never touch a dog that is with its puppies
• Never run from a dog and never scream or wave your arms around
• Never ignore a dog’s warning growl
• Always wash your hands after touching a dog

A child’s guide to approaching a friendly dog:

When saying ‘hello’ to a dog, always remember:

• Always ask the owner for their permission before you pat or touch their dog
• Speak softly to the dog and approach calmly with your hands by your sides
• Do not stare into the dog’s eyes.
• Hold out a loose fist with one hand and let the dog come to you first.  Let the dog sniff the back of your hand – this tells the dog all about you.
• If the dog barks, growls or moves backwards then do not attempt to stroke it.  Leave it alone, because it is telling you that it does not want to be touched, and you should respect its wishes.
• If the dog comes forward and sniffs your hand, you can then gently stroke it under the chin and throat.
• Watch the dog’s tail as you stroke its chin and of it wags, you can continue.  If its tail stiffens and hardly moves or tucks right up under its tummy, then it is better not to stroke it any more.  It is not enjoying being touched.
• Make sure that you do not bend over the dog when you are stroking it.  You should make sure that you do not bring your face close to the dog’s face.  You should avoid staring into its eyes because this will make it think you are threatening.
• All your stroking should be around its chest and sides: avoid touching it behind the ears or rear end.  Only stroke its head if it accepts you touching its chest and sides.
• Only stroke for a short length of time. 
• Do not try to hold on to the dog’s collar or restrain it in any way.  If it pulls away from you at any stage then allow it to do so.
• NEVER put your arms around a dog and try to cuddle it.
• Treat all dogs with care, caution and respect

A child’s guide: what to do when approached by an unleashed, unknown dog:

• Never approach a dog that is off the lead. 
• If you are approached by a dog that is off the lead, if a dog jumps up at you or you are frightened by a dog, try to follow these guidelines.  These guidelines will help to show the dog that you are not going to hurt it and do not want to play chasing games with it:
• Stand very still, facing the dog, but do not stare into its eyes
• Bring your hands slowly up and fold your arms across your chest, tucking your hands under your arms.
• Tuck your chin in.
• Do not move or try to run away because the dog may think that you are playing games of chase.
• Do not scream, shout or wave your arms.
• Act bored.
• Pretend that you are a statue and the dog should quickly lose interest and wander away.
• When the dog has gone, you can slowly walk away, walking backwards, keeping your eye on the dog.  If it comes back again, become a statue once more.

• Never try to chase a dog away by shouting or waving your arms in the air.
• If you are riding a bicycle and a dog starts to chase you then do not try to race it.  Get off and position the bicycle between you and the dog, and it should soon go away.
• If you see two dogs fighting, NEVER attempt to separate them.  GO and fetch help from an adult.
• Never place your hand inside a car to touch a dog: it may have been left on guard in the car.

What to do if an unleashed, unknown dog knocks you over:

• If you are knocked over by a dog and are on the floor, then be as still as a stone:

• Do no try to get up or make sudden noises
• Let go of anything in your hands
• Cover your face with your hands
• Keep your elbows in
• Roll onto your front
• Keep your legs together
• Pull your knees up to your chest
• Tuck yourself up to be as tight as possible
• Keep still
• Do not move until the dog has gone away.  After the dog has gone, tell an adult.

It is essential that parents, often seen as role models by their children, and other adult members of the community are also aware how to behave safely and appropriately around dogs so that the message can be reinforced to their children and other younger members of the community.  This should therefore help to prevent accidental dog biting incidents occurring.

JSPCA working to

“prevent cruelty, promote knowledge, provide for aged, sick, lost and unwanted animals.”

Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Inc.)

Founded 1868 – Incorporated 1936

89 St Saviour’s Road, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4GJ         

Tel: 01534 724331          Fax: 01534 871797

E-mail: info@jspca.org.je          Website: www.jspca.org.je

References and further reading:

• Dogs Trust
• Kennel Club – “safe and sound”