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NAHEE (National Association for Humane and Environmental Education) says, "Each year, about 5 million people in the USA, most under the age of 13, are bitten by dogs. Dog bite injuries are a leading cause of emergency admission of children to hospitals. The good news is that most bites can be prevented."
The Association offers tips for young people when in the company of animals, and sells resources for child carers who want to educate their young charges about safer behavior around animals. Click on any of the product text links, or thumbnail images, to visit the NAHEE online shop for more details, or to order:
Doggone Crazy! is a colorful board game, complete with question cards, game pieces, and photographs of dogs signaling a range of moods through postures and facial expressions. Ages 4 to adult (requiring at least one player with third grade reading skills) for 2-6 players.
Play It Safe with Dogs™ (Fuera de peligro en compañía de perros™) has large, easy-to-color pictures on reproducible paper. English and Spanish text. Suitable for people of any age who enjoy coloring, and we know a few adults who do.
Megaposter Play It Safe with Dogs™ uses colorful drawings and photos to illustrate bite prevention tips, canine body language, and situations that can lead to dog bites. Attention-grabbing display for use in a wide variety of locations. Suitable for all age ranges, especially for encouraging the start of a dialog between a carer and a child.
BOW WOW "OW!" Learning To Be Safe With Dogs is an 8 minute video that describes how dogs communicate and explains proper, safe behavior for 11 situations that commonly lead to dog bites. Recommended for children ages 4-9.
Dogs, Cats & Big Kids is an 18-minute video that demonstrates how to safely approach, handle, and play with dogs and cats. Specially designed for children in grades 4 through 8.Visit the NAHEE web site for more information. These are the tips that the resources are designed to reinforce:
♦ Mother, may I? Rule number one: always ask permission before petting someone's dog. Approach slowly and quietly, and allow the dog to sniff the back of your hand. Pet the dog's sides or back gently.
♦ They think they own everything. Stay away from any dog who may be protecting something. That means not petting dogs who are eating, playing with a toy, tied to runs, fenced in, or in cars.
♦ Dogs hate surprises. Never pet a sleeping dog and never sneak up to play.
♦ It's all in the body language. Tell kids that animals use their whole bodies to tell us how they are feeling, and when dogs tell us they're angry or scared, we must leave them alone. Angry dogs try to make themselves look big by puffing up their ears, fur, and tail. Scared dogs do the opposite, shrinking to the ground with tail between their legs and ears back.
♦ Prepare for the worst. If a dog growls or chases you, be still and quiet. Stand with your hands at your sides (like a tree). If you're playing on the ground, lie down with your knees into your stomach and hands over your ears (like a rock). Use backpacks or bikes as shields. Avoid eye contact, which is often viewed by dogs as a threat.
♦ Don't play rough. In games like tug of war, dogs may bite by accident.
♦ Don't go it alone. If you find an injured dog, get your parent(s) or another adult you know to help.
Last updated Mon. 19 Jul. '10 @ 07:04:01 UTC