Whether you’re going for a walk on the trail, playing at the park, or hanging out at a friend’s house so your kids can play, you’re likely to run into other dogs while you’re out with the kids. That’s a good thing! It’s good for every dog to get outside and play, and it can be a lot of fun for your children to pet cute dogs.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s always good. Not all dogs are friendly, and even friendly dogs can suddenly become less friendly on a dime.

The solution should never be to avoid all dogs in order to avoid an accident. Instead, take these precautions to keep your family protected from dog bites. But in the event your kids do get bit, you might want to consider hiring an Orange County dog bite lawyer. 

 

Don’t Assume Familiar Dogs Are Safe

One of the biggest mistakes both adults and children make is assuming that dogs you know that have interacted with your family regularly are completely safe. Surprisingly, the majority of attacks on children involve a dog familiar to the family.

Whether it’s your own dog, your neighbor’s dog, or a friend’s dog, just because you have spent time around him doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of being pushed to the limit and lashing out. You should always operate with at least a little caution every time the kids and the dog are playing together.

Ask if You Can Pet a Stranger’s Dog

There are a lot of cute dogs out there, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to pet them when you’re out and about. Just don’t assume that it’s okay to pet a dog you have never met before. You should always ask before you or your child interacts with a stranger’s dog.

That includes asking if you can pet a dog that approaches you first. Just because a dog walks up to you when you’re on a walk doesn’t mean he’s going to be friendly. You should ignore the dog until you get permission from the owner to pet him.

It’s especially important to avoid service dogs. Although extremely well-behaved, service dogs are working dogs, and many people don’t want to distract their dog from their job. If you can’t resist, make sure you ask and don’t be offended if they say no.

Teach Your Kids the Right Way to Interact With a Dog

Even if it’s a family dog that you interact with on a regular basis, kids should still be taught the right way to behave around your pet, as well as other pets. Being respectful and careful is the best way to avoid making the dog uncomfortable, which can cause him to lash out.

For example, you should let the dog approach you, avoid direct contact, and let the dog sniff your hand before you start petting him. You should also teach your kids the signs that a dog is getting mad, scared, or irritated. They include:

  • Flattened ears
  • Frequent yawning
  • Licking his lips
  • Growling
  • Showing his teeth
  • Stiff body
  • Tail tucked under his body

If your children see any of these signs, they should stop interacting with the dog right away.

Always Provide Supervision

It’s obvious that you would want to supervise your children when they’re interacting with a stranger’s dog, but you should always provide your children with supervision when interacting with familiar dogs, which includes your family dog.

Even the friendliest dogs can become agitated. Sometimes it’s something your child does, but in some cases, it could be an undiagnosed medical condition that makes a normally friendly dog lash out in ways that are surprising. Make sure your children are supervised so accidents can be avoided.

Stay Away From Dogs That Aren’t Leashed

When you’re out and about, you should stay away from dogs that aren’t leashed. Although the assumption is that the dog is well-behaved if it is allowed to run free, you don’t know if that’s the case for sure. Especially if your children are riding scooters, riding bikes, or just being loud. You never know what could trigger another dog to lash out.

You should also avoid interacting with an unleashed dog even if it approaches you. Don’t be afraid to ask the owner to put their dog on a leash, especially since it’s the law.

You don’t have to keep your kids away from all dogs in order to keep them safe! By taking just a few precautions, you can teach your kids the right way to interact with canines so they can pet and play with many different kinds of dogs.