Animal Safety Series: Teaching kids to be safe around canines

First in a 4-part series on Animal Safety

One may ask, What exactly is Animal Safety?

Many say it’s knowing simple first aid or even the way you care for your pet. There is one way most fail to talk about and explain with children. How do you approach a dog? How do you react when one attacks?

Often these questions aren’t thought of until after something bad happens; then the animal is blamed. It’s said that you don’t need a lot of common sense on how to approach and unknown canine. If it’s so simple, then why do most fail to do so?

In general, those attacked by an unfamilar canine, blame the dog or even blame the owner; never once does one look back to what they themselves could have done to cause such a reaction from the dog.

The most common phrase used on those by others is “One can not know what they are going to do until that situation is present;” if you are aware of your surroundings then you can know as to what you would do in that particular situation. Once attacked though, the person plays victim and throws all the blame onto the dog and their owner, when all the dog was doing is protecting themselves. Now dogs can be trained things, yes; but in some circumstances that training leaves there brain while instinct sets in. It’s just like when being attacked by another person, one will defend themself.

On the other hand, a dog is adapted to their owner and their territory. Yes, the canine will accept strangers in to the house when proper introduction is done and the owner is present to control the situation. There’s always the situation when kids are brought into the situation as well. When teaching anyone how to approach a dog these are some precuations to explain and reinforce.

Dog Language 

1. Always let the dog approach you in any situation. It is best to get down on the dogs level and make no eye contact. The reason for no eye contact is so you’re not intimidating .

2. Hold your hand out palm up and let the canine smell you before advancing to pet.

3. Never sneak up on a sleeping pet or one that is eating or drinking. They can become very possesive of their food or territory.

4. Be catious when approaching a dog with a toy;  it can cause a negative reaction if the dog belives you are taking their toy.

5. Stay away from dogs in cars; they tend to become territorial if you approach their space.

6.  Never antagonize or approach a dog behind a fence; it will be territorial of its land.

7.  Always give a dog plenty of space.

8. Never run from a dog attacking you; it triggers predator v. prey actions that are present in all animals.

Animal Safety is growing in need, with the amount of strays going up in number.  Always watch for the body language a canine, or any animal for that fact, because it can be the key factor of what said animal is going to do. Above all else, remind oneself and others that an animal is an animal no matter of the training, and always be cautious even if you know them.

Written and submitted by Amber Nicole Welch, animal activist and senior at Trinity High School in Euless. Amber plans to study veterinary medicine at A&M University.

To submit your student-written article for consideration, email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com.

  Amber Welch, animal activitist, animal safety, canines, Euless, student journalist, Trinity High School