Dog Safety Tips

• Parents must establish ground rules when activities involve dogs and children, including how to approach and behave around a dog.
• Children and adults should not walk in between two dogs, especially if the dogs are attempting to challenge one another.
• Dogs don't express their affection by hugging or kissing. Parents should not encourage their children to kiss dogs or allow dogs to lick their faces.
• Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• One should never greet a dog with an outstretched hand. Rather, the dog should be approached with a closed fist.
• Children should play quietly around the dog; they should not reach out to the dog and pet it. Rather, they should stand still, avoid eye contact, stay calm, talk softly, and back away slowly once the dog loses interest; never run.
• Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog. When a dog first meets a stranger it is in a state of alert. Thus it is safer to wait up to a minute before establishing first contact with a strange dog to allow time for adrenal reactions to cease. Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
• If a dog attacks place an object in between the yourself and the dog (i.e. a bicycle or backpack)
• If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
• Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
• Always avoid wild animals.