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We need to get it into people's heads that dogs aren't people and they aren't all Labradors.
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Amen! And that just because a dog looks like a Labrador, that doesn't mean it will act like one (*cough* Rose! *cough*) or that it is friendly.
I think it would be excellent to have a program like that in a school.
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So I find myself informing kids and adults when I'm out and about walking the dogs, specifically if they approach my dogs in a way that could freak a dog out, or if they haven't asked me if it's ok. I'm not mean about it or anything like that, I just think it's valuable information that hopefully will get passed on beyond the people I actually tell.
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I do this as well. I especially trying to beat it into the heads of my younger siblings. I loved it when my younger brother and I petsat our neighbors extreamly fear aggressive dog, because I was able to show him how to react to that kind of dog, what her behavior was and why, and how he was triggering that behavior. (And I like Pretty as well, so that was a bonus.
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When he walked up to her kennel head on, standing straight up, and making eye contact with her (proper human greeting), Pretty ran and hid in her doghouse and started growling. But when he turned sideways, crouched down, averted his head, and started speaking softly to her, she hesitantly came out and wanted attention.
Rose is a shy dog as well, and I don't know how many times I have to tell people to please not lean over her and pet her on the head, as this will scare her. They look at me with a sort of, "Huh? But that is how you pet dogs" expression on their face.
Dog saftey would be a wonderful thing to be taught in schools. I think it would lessen the number of bites. And also, it would probably make some adults shape up too...because how wants to be told why a dog is behaving the way it is by someone 30 years younger? I know my parents don't like it. LOL
I did a thirty minute demo speech on dog training and you would have had no idea how many people didn't even know how to teach a dog to sit properly. When I was putting Blackie through his paces and he was heeling, staying in one spot as I walked around the room, and doing is "competitive" come, I think all jaws dropped. LOL
Generally, when people are ignorant about training, they are also ignorant about dog body language and behavior. The two go hand in hand.