There are over seven million dogs in the UK and many of them are bought for companionship and as family pets. It is important that children understand how to behave around the dogs in their homes and in their community so they can enjoy their company and remain safe.
There are many benefits of having a dog in the family:
- Children with pets have better self esteem,empathy and social skills
- They provide loyalty
- There is a reduction of incidence of allergies and asthma when the baby has a cat or dog in the home in their first year of life. The children should also have a better immune system.
- Petting a dog or cat can reduce anxiety and owning a pet can aid relaxation. Dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They also suffer from fewer medical problems generally.
- Walking your dog and caring for them is good exercise
- Children can learn about responsibility, compassion and respect for another living thing
However, we often hear in the media of children getting bitten by dogs. We have put together this booklet to help you to understand more about dog behaviour and how to teach your children to stay safe around dogs.
The reasons dogs bite
- They are protecting themselves or their property
- They may be in pain
- They may feel trapped
- They may have been surprised by your actions
- They may be very excited
Of the people who get bitten
- 70 per cent of dog bites happen in the home
- 80 per cent are bitten by dogs that they regularly meet. With children, this is probably because they are overfamiliar with the dog and don’t stick to the house rules on how to behave around dogs.
- Remember that even the mildest dog may bite in a given situation so it is important for the children to ‘think dog’