Tell kids: Even friendly dogs can bite

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

By Dr. Kate Cronan - Delaware Online / The News Journal

Children of all ages tend to love animals. Having a pet has been found to provide all kinds of benefits -- reducing stress, decreasing blood pressure, building social skills and learning responsibility. I come from a family of dog lovers, and we have had a dog in our house since our children were toddlers.

Because children love their pets, they frequently want to pet them, play with them and sometimes even climb on them. While you may have pets at home that enjoy close attention, not all animals are as tolerant and friendly. It is a myth that "good dogs don't bite." Even the friendliest pet may nip if startled, made to feel threatened or put in a stressful situation.

In fact, dog bites are the most frequent injury children receive from an animal. Close to 5 million dog bites occur every year in the United States. Of these, 60 percent happen to children younger than 12. Boys are twice as likely to be bitten as girls, and boys 5 to 9 are at the highest risk.

To help children avoid many common injuries, it is important to teach them how to behave around animals. If children are taught to be cautious and treat dogs with respect, they are less likely to sustain injuries. Some tips that have been found to be successful:

• Tell your children never to provoke a dog, even if the animal is chained up or in a fenced-in area. They should not yell at, throw things at or tease a dog, because it might make the animal aggressive.

• If your children want to pet a dog outside of their home, have them ask the owner if it is all right. Not all dogs are comfortable around children.

• It is usually best to let the dog smell the child's hand before allowing the child to pet the dog.

• Have the child gently stroke the dog's back. If the animal is accepting, the child may then pet the dog's head. Be sure to avoid the ears, eyes and mouth, because some dogs are sensitive in those areas.

• Do not allow your child to touch a dog's feet or tail.

• Children should never hug, slap or roughly pat a dog they don't know.

• Never try to touch a dog that is eating, because the animal may think you are trying to take away its food.

• Teach your children to recognize signs of stress. The Web site http://DoggoneSafe.com shows how to read a dog's body language.

Dogs can be very territorial, which means they may become aggressive if they think their house or family is being threatened. If your child is roughhousing with another child, the dog may perceive that as a threat and attack.

It is important that your children know what to do if they encounter a dog that is becoming aggressive. If a dog growls or bares its teeth, have the child either stand still or slowly back away. Tell your child not to look the dog in the eye or run. These behaviors may provoke an attack.

Many of these rules also apply to the handling of cats, rabbits and other small animals a child may encounter. Teach them to approach all animals carefully, pet them gently and look for clues as to when to leave them alone.

If you have a dog, try to make it as "kid-friendly" as possible. Socialize your dog around children. If your dog is accustomed to the sights and sounds of children yelling, running and playing, it will be less likely to react.

Dogs and other pets offer many positive benefits to children. To reap these benefits, remember to teach them to use caution when necessary.

Dr. Kate Cronan is chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Rockland and associate professor of pediatrics at Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.