Articles About Dogs

6 Important Safety Lessons For Children On How to Avoid Dog Bites

6 Important Safety Lessons For Children On How to Avoid Dog Bites

One of the most frequent questions from dog owners is "How do I stop my dog from biting?" Or even more common, how to stop a puppy from biting. First we need to know why do dogs bite people? Most dog bites and aggressive behavior happen in six common situations. It's very important that we teach our children about these common situations and how to avoid them. A dog can bite when:

A dog can bite when it's disturbed. Dogs can often bite when disturbed or startled. This usually occurs when a family member disturbs a resting or sleeping dog, picks it up, tries to hold it, or takes something from the dog. More often this happens when children pull a dogs tail, or pull on its ears. Remember the old saying "Let sleeping dogs lie?" There's a lot of good advice in that old idiom.

Lesson 1: Teach children not to disturb resting or sleeping dogs.

A dog can bite when it's afraid. Frightened or scared dogs are acting instinctively when they bite. They're doing what comes naturally, protecting themselves. Unfortunately, a scared dog will snap at you and bite instinctively. This usually happens when someone approaches the dog too quickly or startles a dog.

Lesson 2: Teach children not to sneak up on dogs, especially strange dogs unfamiliar to your family. Even a gentle small dog will bite defensively if startled or frightened.

A dog can bite when it's protecting its territory. Most times we're glad when our pooch protects our property. After all, he's guarding the home front and the family. However, for visitors to your home, the meter reader, or the postman, it can be a different story. These people can be bitten by your friendly pooch.

Lesson 3: Teach children not to go on private property without adult supervision. A forty pound child is no match for an adult dog protecting its territory.

A dog can bite when it's in attack mode. We've all seen examples of this behavior. A dog's natural instinct is to chase small running animals, running children and adults, and even cars. Have you ever noticed what a dog does if it catches a car? It tries to bite the tires. My first lesson from my GrandDad as a child was to never run from a large dog.

Lesson 4: You can't outrun a dog pumped up with adrenalin and in attack mode. Second, if you do run, the dog's instincts kick in and they're after you in a flash. And third, the dog could seriously injure you, or even worse, (through biting) when they catch you.

A dog often bites when it's suffering or in pain. When a dog is suffering or in pain, leave it alone if at all possible. Our natural instincts are to pet or comfort the dog. Even our best intentions and motives can backfire on us, especially a strange dog unknown to us. As much as we want to comfort a suffering or injured dog, we must be careful.

Lesson 5: Teach children not to pet dogs that are in pain, or suffering. Even the beloved family dog can snap and bite when in pain.

A dog can bite when it's punished or abused. Unfortunately, dogs can and will bite when someone abuses or mistreats them. Dogs will bite their owners, small children, or other family members, when mistreated. Think about it. If you were a dog and someone is physically mistreating you, wouldn't you bite? It's natural instinct for a dog to protect himself.

Lesson 6: Teach children not to abuse or mistreat dogs, or any animal for that matter. Abused animals do bite, and have been known to kill.

Our pets, especially our dogs, are our loyal, faithful, and loving friends. They're our family. They'll give you unconditional love whether you're homeless, or live in a mansion. And when we lose a beloved pet, we mourn, we cry, and we remember. But, we must also remember our pets have natural instincts. And one of those instincts is to bite. Discuss these six lessons with your children. Someday your kids may be face-to-face with a dog in one of the above situations. Then, hopefully, they'll remember these lessons, and thank you.

.................................................

Mike Allred, the author, learned his lessons the hard way. He suffered many dog bites as a child and teen--mostly from trying to comfort and aid injured animals and dogs. Mike lives in south Florida, is an avid outdoorsman, and writes on many topics. For more information on dog behavior problems, and how to prevent dog biting behavior, visit www.ProDogTrainingMethods.com

Mike Allred lives in south Florida. An avid outdoorsman, he writes on many topics, especially nature, the outdoors, and pets.

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Elections Go To The Dogs In New York! My Dog Votes Launches Dog-Friendly Voter Awareness Survey to New York State Legislature Candidates
My Dog Votes™ teams up with New York State dog groups to inform dog owners and inspire voter participation.

How To Choose A Dog - There Is A Lot To Consider, But A Lot Of Help Too
Choosing a dog is a fun adventure. The search for a new familial addition is exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming.

Guide to Adopting a Dog from a Shelter
One of the best ways to go about acquiring a new pet is by lending a careful thought to the strayed and abandoned animals, specifically with regards to dogs.

Crate Training Your Puppy or Dog
Introducing your puppy to the crate should be an easy and fun process. First, start by putting the crate somewhere the puppy enjoys being.

UK Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Fun Day 2007
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are coming to the UK. At the Swissy Fun Day dogs - and their owners - will be available to meet, in an unmissable opportunity to encounter this charming breed.

Lucky Dog Ranch Offers Cage-Free Boarding and Los Angles Base Dog Training
Dogs are shuttled to Lucky Dog Ranch, spend all day with other dogs the same size in a safe and stimulating environment, and then they're shuttled home.

The Positve Benefits of Dog Day Care
Dog day care programs benefit the dogs of owner's who have busy lives and are not able to socialize and exercise their dogs. Owners benefit from a guilt free day of work or play and can come home to a calm, relaxed pet.

Men?s Dog Tags
Dubbed so as it assumes close resemblance to the metal badge on a pet collar, a dog tag is an oblong metal piece strewn though a metal ball-and-socket chain around the neck by armed forces These chiefly serve to identify casualties in conjunction with fundamental medical background (e

Guidance For Boxer Dog Training
A boxer dog is a very beautiful, intelligent and loyal pet Many people are attracted towards boxer dogs due to their beauty, they like them due to their intelligence and prefer to have boxer dogs as a pet at home due to their loyal nature

Discount Dog Toys: Buy Or Not To Buy?
Buying discount dog toys can be one of the best decisions you will ever make for your dog and yourself Some may still think that the toys with the highest price tags are always the best choices

Organic, Healthy, Sustainable Dog Treats, Bones, Cookies, Crunchies and Trainers Now Available Wholesale To Qualified Vendors Throughout The Continent
Our Happy Hounds Organic Biscuit Bakery, a custom organic and healthy line of wholesome, gourmet treats, is now available to all dogs and cat retailers! Our products are made of human-grade organic ingredients, making your hound a healthy hound!

What About a Newfoundland Dog
Ok, so everyone who stays on top of the show dog world knows that a Newfoundland won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show in 2004. That was a shock to many of the traditionalists who think that the smaller and more assertive dogs are the ideal and drool does not belong on the show floor.

Pet Sitters International Invites Businesses, Shelters and Pet Sitters to Participate in Take Your Dog To Work Day® on Friday, June 22, 2007
Pet Sitters International's ninth annual Take Your Dog To Work Day® sponsored by PEDIGREE® JUMBONE® will take place on Friday, June 22, 2007. Businesses, animal shelters and professional pet sitters are encouraged to partner on this day in celebration of the great companions dogs make.

Choosing Dog Tags for Your Canine
Remember when you first met your dog? He was fresh and new, and you were just getting to know each other. You went through training together, perhaps even ate together.