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Dogs and children can be an unpredictable mix, especially if the interactions are unsupervised. The dog may bite if it feels threatened, scared or if its very excited. Sometimes a dog may mis-read a child’s actions as “it wants to hurt me”, even if the child wants to be friendly.
Children need to be taught to respect all sentient beings, and they need to understand that animals (dogs) are also able to feel love and fear. Sudden noises, movements, unexpected touches can upset or frighten a dog.
 
Guide on how to approach a dog:
· Always ask the owner first if the dog can be touched
.· Don’t scream, run or jump around the dog.
· Give the animal plenty of space· Only feed the dog if the owner has told you to.
· Always make a dog aware of your presence if you are approaching him. Call him first.
· Never approach a dog when the dog is sleeping.
· Never approach a dog when the dog is eating or drinking.
· Never try to take the dog’s toy away from him.
· Never kick the dog.
· Never pull the dog’s ears or tail.
· Never go near a dog which has puppies
· Never approach a dog that is sick or injured
· Never approach a dog that is trying to move away
 
Guide on what to do if the dog approaches you:
· Pretend you are a tree (stand still and firm in the ground)
· Let the dog smell / sniff your hand.
· Never run away or scream.
· If the dog knocks you over, pretend you are a rock, curl up into a little ball, covering your head with your arms.
· If you are carrying a bag and the dog jumps on you, put the bag between you and the dog.
· If you are on a bicycle, do not try to ride away from the dog if he starts chasing you. Stop, and ensure the bicycle is between you and the dog. |
