Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr
Best Puppy Training: Don’t Forget to Train Your Kids
When considering the best puppy training: don’t forget to train your kids. It’s vital for parents or caregivers to take the time to help kids understand that dogs, any dog, no matter what the breed or size, may bite if antagonized or handled incorrectly. A well-intentioned pet owner may not actually be fully aware of what their dog would do under certain situations.
I’ve personally been bitten by dogs that ended up being more of a surprise to the owner than to me. As a dog enthusiast and familiar with the way dogs can react, I’m always aware that even the sweetest looking pooch can react suddenly out of fear and uncertainty. This may result in a bite and if it happens to be a child, it could have serious consequences.
Best Puppy Training: Don’t Forget to Train Your Kids
Teaching children how to behave around dogs is a more effective way of reducing attacks than banning dangerous breeds of the animals, according to an article published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Researchers, led by paediatric surgeon Professor Roy Kimble, studied data which showed that between 2003 and 2009, 186 children were admitted to Queensland hospitals after being bitten by dogs and 98 per cent required at least one operation under general anaesthetic.
More than 93 per cent of the children were left with permanent cosmetic scarring. Patient records did not always record the breed of the dogs involved in attacks but breeds commonly mentioned in articles included Rottweilers, German shepherds, cattle dogs and the bull terrier group.
However, data on other breeds and cross-breeds showed that any dog was capable of biting.
Professor Kimble said laws which targeted specific ”dangerous breeds” were not based on whether the breeds were inherently dangerous, but on those breeds which had been traditionally used for fighting.
”Breed-specific legislation fails to take into account that any breed of dog can be dangerous in the hands of an irresponsible owner who fails to provide good and early training,” he said.
”Further, these restrictions may create the risk of higher numbers of unregistered animals or irresponsible owners simply turning to other breeds.”
Professor Kimble said dogs should be taken to obedience classes and taught to obey commands from all family members.
Dogs used for hunting or as guard dogs should not be allowed to mix with children.
Children should be taught to:
- Ask permission from the owner before slowly approaching an unfamiliar dog
- Never to run from a dog or scream
- Stand still if approached by a strange dog and, if knocked over, roll into a ball and lie still
- Avoid eye contact with the dog by looking at their own feet
- Not to disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies and
- Not to pat a dog without supervision or without allowing them to see and sniff them first. Click here to visit the original source of this post
These tips could save you, your child, the dog, and the owner of the dog a lot of grief. Being that so many people may potentially be affected by a dog bite (or, even worse, a dog attack). Therefore, the best puppy training: don’t forget to train your kids motto is vitally important. You should not fear a dog, but if you do not know the dog, or are uncertain of it in any way, your reaction and response will determine the outcome of the situation, and it’s imperative to pass on this knowledge to your children.
I look forward to your feedback and comments.
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