4 weeks ago 12th Apr 12:04
Before buying a dog, many people picture an idyllic scene of children playing happily with their new pet, learning to care for them and enjoying the benefits of outdoor exercise.
But children and dogs can be a difficult mix. In 2005-06, almost 900 children aged nine or under were admitted to hospital after injuries caused by dogs.
It's enough to have prompted doctors to recommend that children shouldn't be left alone with dogs.
As well as supervising your children when they're with a dog, you should teach them to:
Stroke the dog gently on the head or chest without 'hugging' it around the neck
Avoid staring straight into the dog's eyes because it may think this is threatening behaviour
Avoid running and screaming around the dog
Leave the dog alone when it's eating or sleeping
Treat the dog with kindness and respect
To minimise the risk of aggressive behaviour by your dog:
Do some research before you buy and find out which breeds behave best with children
Buy from a reputable breeder
Take your dog to a formal training class and teach it to behave well around children
Make sure your dog has a 'retreat', such as a bed
Avoid giving your dog toys that resemble children's clothes or playthings
Don't allow your dog to play rough games with adults that wouldn't be safe with children
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