Kids, Dogs, & Dog Bites

This week, a reality TV star's son was hospitalized following a dog bite. Her four year old was bitten so severely, he required surgery. While this sounds horrible (and it is), it is important to remember that this is not a rare occurrence. Children get bit all the time and often the injuries require medical attention. My hope is that her talking about her son's injuries will bring the issue to the forefront. Children should never be left unsupervised with dogs and their interactions with unfamiliar dogs on the street, at the park, etc. need to be monitored and guided.

The number of times I have witnessed kids running up to unfamiliar dogs, grabbing them for a hug and/or kiss, is staggering. Where are the parents/caregivers when this happens? While I don't disagree that dog owners can and should help educate children about how to engage their dogs, it is up to the parents first and foremost to work on this behavior. Just as you have a conversation with your kids about talking to strangers, looking both ways before crossing the street, etc., you should also be talking to them about what to do if approached by a dog or when approaching a dog.

And for children growing up in homes with dogs: You have to teach your dogs to respect those kids and vice versa. Dogs need to know that they have safe places to retreat to when they need a break; kids need those safe places as well. Dogs in their crates or on their dog beds should be left alone. Kids playing in their room should not have to put up with a dog in their personal space either. Parents need to monitor their kids' behavior with the family dog(s) and those dogs need to be watched as well. Punishing a dog that curls its lip or growls is NOT the answer. That lip curl or growl may be the only thing standing between your child getting bit or not. Instead, heed that warning from the dog and look to see what you and your child can do to avoid triggering the dog again. Maybe your child tried to hug the dog. Dogs don't inherently enjoy hugs. Some can learn to tolerate them, but most dogs see this as uncomfortable. And if you have a dog who guards their resources, you the adult, need to be in control of those resources and make sure your kids don't get between the dog and what he/she covets.

Dog bites happen. Here are the stats: The odds that a dog bite victim will be a child are 3 to 1. Severe injuries are highest for kids ages 4-9. The child's face is the most frequent site for the injuries. Dog bites result in 350,000 visits to the emergency room every year. Those statistics are sobering. We all must be vigilant and educate our children about respect for animals. We must also insure that our dogs are well-suited to environments where children are present BEFORE we put our dogs into those situations.