|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dogs and Children ? What Parents Need to Know to Prevent Dog Bites
Dogs and children are a perfect fit. They are what fond memories are made of and part of a joyful childhood. But sometimes tragedy does strike. What should you do to prevent an accidental attack?
The first caution for parents is to NEVER leave very young children (pre-school age - under six) left unattended with a dog. If you trust your dog then you likely do not believe that the dog will suddenly choose to attack. However, the dog is not much different than a small child itself. If a dog is unintentionally harmed or feels threatened it may bite in self-defense, just as small children may push or scratch another child when they feel threatened. Do not subject your dog or child to possible harm by leaving them alone to play. Your dog is not an adult. Always supervise dogs and children and you will be preventing a problem from occurring.
Discourage your children from hugging and kissing their dog as most bites to the face happen this way.
Regardless of the age of your children you should discourage roughhousing with the dog. Some of the larger breeds can generally handle rougher play, such as Newfoundlands and Boxers, without becoming agitated. Other large breeds may become irritated by ear pulling, grabbing and other play and accidentally harm your child. Large breeds may even knock over a small child unintentionally.
On the other hand, smaller breeds sometimes hurt children because they feel threatened by overly affectionate mauling or fear being stepped on. In these cases they may bite or scratch in an effort to protect themselves from harm. It is recommended that roughhousing should be discouraged with all breeds.
You should seriously consider fully training any dog you choose as a family pet. While some trainers may feel that the owner is adequately qualified to take on this task, you may wish to consider having your dog professionally trained if possible.
Incorrect training can actually lead to behavior problems. Owning a fully-trained dog will give you the peace of mind you are looking for when selecting a pet for your children.
These are just some of the points to consider when bringing a dog home for your children. By taking the time to understand and learn about dogs before bringing one home, you are more likely to find the life-long friend your children deserve!
Shannon Emmanuel is a freelance writer and the author of 'How to Select the Best Dog or Puppy for Your Children'. Find tips and information on dogs for children at http://www.best-dog-breed-for-children.com
Wind Chimes and more... Almost every dog owner will have to use some sort... Read More So you just loved that sweet little puppy that you... Read More Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of... Read More While dogs tend to get lots of exercise, cats are... Read More So you have a mature pair of discus fish that... Read More Understanding where horses come from has been a long road... Read More So you want to keep discus fish or are already... Read More Get to know your beloved dog better with these insightful... Read More Gone are the days of boring bird cages. Today's bird... Read More Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process.... Read More Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More Dog SupplementsA good nutritional program of dog supplements is just... Read More We all know that good food, a loving home and... Read More Nervous cats hide from people, they do not readily present... Read More Tired of cleaning the cat box? Here are some tips... Read More There are plenty of reasons why your cat loves you.... Read More Do you have at least one framed photo of your... Read More Is your home safe for your Furr Kids? It might... Read More It is hard to get an early diagnosis of lyme... Read More You can look at westhighland terriers and know if it... Read More Clone a Cat, Go To Jail ...or at least... Read More Canine Parvovirus, is a viral disease that attacks dogs and... Read More Vitamins Can Increase Your Dog's Life Span!There is evidence to... Read More Vitamins for Pets - How Essential Are They?A vitamin supplement... Read More Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
Six Dog Training Tips to Modify Negative Behavior
Bringing Home a Puppy ? Be Prepared!
Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs
How To Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy - Playtime for Kitty
Breeding Discus ? 3 Ways to Encourage Spawning
Mind Over Matter
Keeping Discus Fish Disease Free
Top 20 Dog Quotations
Wooden Bird Cages
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking ? Training Your Dog To Keep Quiet
Scottish Terrier Dogs - Important Facts
Buy Dog Supplements Online
Your Pets Medicine Chest - Medications To Keep On-Hand
Nervous Cats, Wining the Trust of a Timid Cat
How To Toilet Train Your Cat
10 Reasons Why Your Cat Loves You
4 Ways In Which You Can Show Your Dog How Much You Love Him
Home Hazards That Can Affect Our Pets
Lyme Disease in Dogs
Are Westhighland Terriers the Right Dogs for You?
Pet Loss: Should You Clone Your Cat?
Canine Parvovirus
Pet Vitamin Supplements - Whether You Need One and How to Choose One
Pet Vitamins are Essential for Your Dogs Health
Arthritis Pain Relief For Dogs ? Simple Home Remedies That Work
Pet Tracking Devices
It was the Saturday morning of August 20, 2004 and... Read More
The Right Way to Use Electronic Dog Training Collars
As with every training tool used to modify a behavior... Read More
10 Questions Im Most Asked about Dogs in Heat
1. What is heat?Heat is more properly called the estrous... Read More
Your Purrrfect Companion
Out of all the pet animals, the cat is most... Read More
Decorating for The Cat Owner - How to Protect Your Possessions
The first thing a cat owner should know about home... Read More
The Optimum Cichlid Aquarium Set Up
The groups of fishes commonly referred to as Cichlids, comprise... Read More
Mosquitoes Are a Hazard to Your Pets Health Too
None of us likes to be bitten by mosquitoes and... Read More
Train Your Buddy To ?Walk? & ?Dance? - Warning: Not All Dogs Can Do It!
Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More
How Cats With Feline Diabetes Can Lead A Happy Life
"Your cat has feline diabetes." If this is your vet's... Read More
Lyme Disease Treatment in Pets
Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, because the disease... Read More
The Top Ten Reasons You Can - And Should - Hold an Equine Educational Event
Boarding, Breeding, Training & Showing Stables:1. You need to fill... Read More
A Look at Discount Bird Cages
Buying a pet bird can be quite an investment. After... Read More
How To Use Horse Training Thinking To Solve Dang Near Any Problem With A Horse
Horse training can be a relatively mysterious subject to people... Read More
The 7 Stages of Puppy Development
Let's take a look at the different stages, but before... Read More
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking ? Training Your Dog To Keep Quiet
Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process.... Read More
The Gifts We Give Our Dogs
Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar... Read More
Training Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits
Training CollarsTraining collars are a tool many pet owners utilize... Read More
Decorative Bird Cages
Whether purely for looks or for a bird's home, bird... Read More
What You Should Know About Your Puppy And Play Biting
The main ways a puppy will play with another dog... Read More
Herding and the German Shepherd Dog
Once other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats became... Read More
Owning a Wild or Exotic Cat; Information, Laws, and Advice
Have you ever dreamed of living with a bobcat or... Read More
The Case AGAINST Raw Frozen Pet Foods
For some 25 years I have alerted the public to... Read More
Cats And Litter Box Problems
If your cat has recently decided not to use the... Read More
5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vet For Your Dog
Find a vet, if possible, who specializes in small animals... Read More
Round Pen: The Great Equalizer
Although many horsemen and trainers extol the virtues of the... Read More
Pet |