The Sardine Tin came up with what I considered to be an inspired idea: a Mystery Blog Swap. The issues I have been having with technology of late meant that I have had to wait until now to post some absolutely brilliant advice by…..you didn’t think I was actually going to tell you, did you? Have a guess whilst you read*.
Dogs and kids are a great combination, but these days there are less children than ever before growing up with a pet dog. Dogs are a demanding and expensive pet, and have become a luxury for a lot of families. However, they are still a familiar sight in our parks and woods, and it is in public places, or at a friend’s house, that a lot of children will have memorable experiences with dogs.
It is important that all children are taught how to stay Safe and Sound around dogs, even if they rarely encounter one in day to day life.
Humans and dogs speak different languages, and children ( and adults) often misinterpret what a dog is ‘saying’ ; these misunderstandings are the most common cause of injuries to children, such as bites, and are almost wholly avoidable.
Dogs very rarely attack ‘without warning’, it is far more likely that the humans involved simply did not understand what the dog was saying. For example, most grown ups will understand that a growl from a dog is a warning, but did you know that a nervous dog will also yawn and lick its lips to tell you it’s not happy?
I use ‘Sashi’s Code’ from the Kennel Club website to help children learn to stay safe around dogs in different situations.
The code incorporates a ’20 Paw Plan’ which teaches children to always ask permission before interacting with a dog they don’t know. They also learn the safe way to say hello to a friendly dog.
Sashi’s code also says:
Stay away from loose dogs or dogs you don’t know.
Never touch a dog that is eating, sleeping, tied up, with it’s puppies or is growling.
Never tease a dog.
Never stare at a dog.
Don’t run away from a dog.
If a dog runs up to you, Be a Tree! Stand still, drop anything you are holding. Fold your arms. Don’t move, scream, run away or look directly at the dog. Act bored. When the dog moves away, walk backwards. away from the dog and tell an adult.
If a dog knocks you over. or comes over to you while you are on the ground, Be a Stone! Don’t try and get up. Be quiet. Let go of anything in your hands and cover your face. Roll on to your front and tuck your legs in, keep them together. Curl up in a ball and keep still. Don’t move until the dog has gone away, and then tell an adult.
This is important, potentially life saving stuff and should be taught to children as soon as they can walk.
It helps if you, as an adult, can remain calm around dogs; children will pick up their reactions from you.
These actions are not just for children. Next time a strange dog approaches you, try being a tree yourself and observe how quickly it gets bored. Teach these rules by example, just as you would the road code.
Once you’ve gone through the above points with your children, fire up the computer and invite them to play The Safe And Sound Safety Factor Challenge. Have a go at it yourself beforehand, it’s a great way to consolidate the lessons learnt and most kids ( and parents) should eventually make it to the end with no bite marks, and the maximum number of safety stars. Then they can print out a certificate showing that they now know how to stay ‘Safe and Sound ‘ around dogs.
Children’s lives are enriched by living with dogs. They learn responsibility, empathy and their self esteem increases. Parents have the responsibility of making sure that this companionship is as safe as possible. No dog is 100% safe but through education nearly 100% of dog injuries are preventable.
*To help you, the list of entrants is here.
Go on! You know you want to tell me what you think!