Dog Safety for Kids

September 4th, 2007 · 20 Comments

We owned a greyhound briefly. Great dog: compliant, friendly, placid.

Not a good dog for kids though, first because he had never learned to play (he’d been a racing dog before we adopted him) and second because of his size (a small misdemeanour became a big one because of this). One day our then-4-year-old suprised him when he was sleeping and he bit out, catching the boy on his lip. It was only a minor cut (thank you God!) but the red flag went up.

“Rocky” (the dog not the boy!) had to find a more appropriate home.

Wish I’d spent the time on dog education before that incident.

Here’s the essentials to teach kids:

Don’t go near strange dogs in the street or park.

Tell an adult about any stray dogs.

Never bother a dog that is eating, sleeping or caring for puppies.

Leave the dog alone if it raises the hair on its back, lifts its lip or growls (it’s not playing)

If you want to pat a dog at someone’s house, ask permission from the owner and make sure the owner is with you and watching when you do.

Always have an adult with you when you play with a dog.

When you play with a dog for the first time, put the back of your hand out slowly for the dog to sniff. If the dog offers you its head, don’t pat it on top of the head but gently rub under its chin or chest

Never tease a dog, never tease a dog, never tease a dog!

Don’t squeal (this works well at keeping adults from attacking you too!)

(More later…)

Tags: A Word to the Wise · Research

20 responses so far ↓

Jo // Sep 5, 2007 at 12:54 am

You forgot - never trust a dog…

As tough as that sounds, it has been known for long-time family pets who have up until a point in time, been placid, friendly etc etc to all of a sudden, turn around and bite/attack a family member.

Also - don’t make eye contact with a dog that’s growling at you or it may take it as a challenge.
Joe // Sep 5, 2007 at 9:55 am

Pete, what are the chances of you and I posting about dogs on the same day? Or is it the same day since it’s my tomorrow where you are? I just can’t wrap my mind around the time shift. Maybe you read my post before I wrote it and then it inspired you to warn me about the dog?

Boy 3 really, really likes to bother Lilly. I don’t know what to do about it. Part of me wants to say he deserves to be bitten, but I’ll be singing a different tune when he’s on the exam table getting his face stitched up.
Pete // Sep 5, 2007 at 4:16 pm

Jo & Joe - this is going to get confusing!

Jo, good stuff, you wouldn’t believe it that as I hit the “publish” button for this post, my youngest son was playing with our little terrier dog (absolutely fantastic with kids) & accidentally hurt it and nearly got nipped in the face (again!). “Never trust a dog”? - Amen, sister!

Joe, that is truly bizarre. But then “Great Minds…” and all that. Remember I live in your future (about 14 hours ahead) so I MUST have posted first.

Now I’m intrigued to go and read yours. Sounds like your son and my youngest have a lot in common. My youngest is like “Once bitten … oh, what the heck I’ll keep irritating dogs!” Maybe they both need some shock therapy - like some photos of kids who’ve had their faces bitten open by a dog … not sure if I’m half-joking there or serious… Keep us updated on how you’re travelling with son #3 on that one…
Judy Paulsen // Sep 6, 2007 at 12:28 am

Too bad you hadn’t read the website that pops up first on Google when you type in Greyhound Behavior before you adopted Rocky. Lots of information on why these dogs (retired racers) don’t make the best pets, including “sleep aggression” issues - especially dangerous for kids who don’t understand how important it is to “let sleeping dogs lie”.
Pete // Sep 6, 2007 at 9:02 am

I guess. Now. In 2004, I’m not sure that was the first page that would have come up on a google search.

The fact is that the 2 owners of greyhounds, the managers of the Greyhound Adoption Program & the Dog Trainer we spoke to all told us the complete opposite. For example here are direct quotes from the GAP website.

“Are greyhounds good with children?
Retired racing greyhounds are very tolerant with children. If a child becomes overbearing, the dog will usually walk away rather than snap or growl. Male greyhounds can be better with children than female greyhounds - females can sometimes regard children as puppies. It is in their nature to discipline their own puppies when they get too boisterous, and some do the same with human children. This is usually evidenced by growling or barking when their patience has been pushed to the limit. Males, however, tend to see children as siblings, and are more likely to enjoy playing with them. As with all breeds of dogs, small children should never be left unsupervised with your greyhound.”

“Greyhounds are quiet, well mannered, and very easy to live with. They are friendly,affectionate, lazy, calm, clean, loving, trusting and good-natured.”

My boys were never left alone with the dog and the snapping happened while we were there.

In retrospect, I coulda googled more, I shoulda started with a small dog from the puppy stage, I woulda … Well, woulda/shoulda/coulda…

Thanks for the information, this is important for people to know.
michmolk // Sep 9, 2007 at 9:52 pm

Well now, it wouldn’t be a problem if you had got a cat instead!
Pete // Sep 10, 2007 at 8:21 am

Don’t go there, Mich, don’t go there. Let’s just say I’m NOT A CAT PERSON!
Bad Dad // Sep 11, 2007 at 12:30 am

Good tips.

I love dogs. I had a dog for sixteen years growing up. But I wont permit the family to have one.

We have an old cat (one of two that came with the wife) that all the kids are afraid of. The younger boys still throw stuffed animals at it. (Ridiculous since this poor thing lives in my bedroom closet and only comes out to go to our bathroom litter box.

The kids ask regularly for a dog, yet all run away scared when a neighborhood dog on a leash walks by the house.

I’m the one stuck feeding and cleaning up after the remaining cat — which belongs to my wife. Plus the little bugger vomits on my side of the bed, in my slippers, in the closet — and I end up cleaning that too.

With four looney boys and a house we can barely keep in order, I do not want another thing to take care of — not even a turtle. I don’t care if that sounds selfish.
Joe // Sep 11, 2007 at 2:11 am

BadDad, that was exactly my reason for not wanting a dog, and I resisted it for a long time. The funny thing was, Boy 12’s behavior was a big part of the chaos in the household, and Lilly has been nothing short of a miracle in that regard (see my comment above for the link to the more complete story).

Not trying to convince you to get another living thing. I’m just sayin’.
Pete // Sep 11, 2007 at 8:46 am

Bad Dad, I think we understand. YOu’ve just articulated many of the reasons for NOT owning a cat (they’re the most vile creatures under the sun).

How about sea monkeys?
michmolk // Sep 11, 2007 at 10:55 am

But my cats are just lovely and very gentle with my babies and will come running to see why they are crying…I don’t understand why people love or hate cats yet can be ambivalent “take them or leave them” with dogs. Dogs are great, I’ve had a couple, but cats are my favourite. My tropical fish are lovely too but not so cuddly!
Chris // Sep 11, 2007 at 2:08 pm

Having lived for 7 years with a large male husky who taught me how to not be scared of dogs, this advice is terrific for all concerned
Michelle Young Cuenant // Jul 22, 2008 at 6:07 am

Honestly, we treat “our children” as if they were princesses and princes from another realm…it is clearly a misconception that children understand “how” to behave with animals…most never have proper knowledge and compassion unless your parent happened to be Steve Irwin…and the lesson was learned every day.
It is neither shrewd nor forgivable to blame an adoption agency for a dog YOU adopt…YOU must be the protector and the educator…and make sure your children respect animals at ALL times…a simple “NO!” to your children might be the start of education for all. Otherwise, dogs and cats alike will be forever dumped back at the pound.
Pete // Jul 22, 2008 at 8:52 am

You know Michelle, I value your opinion and thank you for taking the time to write so clearly here. I do invite you to go back and read what I’ve written in the post and my comments. I’m not sure you’ve heard me. And I have to admit that when commentors take the tone that you and Judy have taken above, it doesn’t paint you in a good light and is personally offensive to me.

And yes, I write fairly flippantly about cats and dogs on this blog. This is definitely not a Happy Place for people who are angry over the way animals are treated by some of the humans of our planet. But three things I’d love you to note:

1) I had a high respect for Rocky. He wasn’t punished for being a dog or for being a greyhound. OUR HOUSE WAS NOT A GOOD HOME FOR HIM EITHER. As I said, we had been basically lied to as the amount of activity he needed and wanted. Our back yard was too small for him and we were a family who are time poor, so walking him TWICE a day happened occasionally but not daily.
2)This is not an animal rights blog, it’s not a blog about pets. It’s a blog about raising children and becoming lifelong learners as parents. If you want me to be the “EDUCATOR” of my children, isn’t that exactly what I’m doing by teaching them how to interact with dogs safely? (Which was the actual point of the article, by the way)
3) Puh-lease. Dumping him back at the “Pound.” Rocky went back to the people we knew cared about him enough to (hopefully this time) match him with a couple without kids and with the time to exercise him consistently. The Adoption Program.

I’d welcome your response using my contact page on this site, if you choose to continue it, Michelle. But. Please don’t come onto my website, my home, dump your anger on me with no regard for who I am, based on a VERY small window into my values and homelife and then move onto the next blogger who manages to offend you. Not a great way either to build relationships or good will toward your cause.
Chris Owen // Jul 22, 2008 at 10:22 am

Well said Pete!
I think Michelle seems to have skim read your post!
I for one thought it was exactly the advice that parents should be getting about kids and dogs!
Michelle Young Cuenant // Aug 1, 2008 at 12:55 am

Pete…if I am so “angry” I would have had a blog a long time ago and since I am over a half a century in age and “wisdom”…try to “get it”…I was first a Montessori Directress…(better look that up ,too)…I innately believe in the freedoms of spirits and raising children, etc…but one has to have an even hand…in everything and knowledge and reflection and experience all help…I don’t jump to conclusions but when the fact stare you in the face…done deal…
Treat your children with “reality”…and then they will respect, naturally. Montessori is a wonderful thing…I think you should look into it.
Pete // Aug 1, 2008 at 12:38 pm

Thanks for sharing your opinion, Michelle.
Joe // Aug 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Is Montessori some kind of drug? Because it sure seems to have left you incoherent and babbling. Maybe it’s a hallucinogen. That would explain your ridiculous leap from a simple post about dogs and common sense to being the empress of your own little fiefdom and treating kids with reality. And what does that mean, anyway? It’s a rhetorical question, not one directed to you specifically. You’re clearly unhinged and not qualified to answer it.
Roland // Aug 1, 2008 at 12:54 pm

This blog is clearly about sharing experiences, frustrations and tips to help one another. That’s why I come back.

The lessons about this particular experience with children and pets were important and well covered.

I recommend ending the thread here and moving on to more positive things.
Chris // Aug 1, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Hi Pete
I’m sorry to see your excellent blog being assaulted by someone whose opinion is different from yours. Well done for keeping polite in the face of such tirades.
I personally also felt offended that someone should believe that they are so superior that no-one writing or reading this blog could possibly have the knowledge of such intellectual or diverse worlds as Montessori.
Good grief, big deal. It’s just an alternative form of education. The adults i know who were Montessori-educated are no more or no less intelligent civilised human beings than my own adult sons who had a more mainstream education.
But let’s leave Michelle to stew in her own venom and move on with this most excellent blog that shares experiences, mistakes, hard-fought wisdoms, and the vulnerability of being the best Dad you can be at any given time.