Doghouse Properties - Cody & Havana's Tails: Teach Kids to Approach Dogs Safely

I received the Summer 2007 copy of the USAA Magazine which had an great article on how to teach kids to approach dogs safely. According to the author of the article, children are taught early on to be cautious of strangers, however, when they see a dog they think it is OK to play with it. Unfortunately, there are irresponsible pet owners who don't properly train their dog, which can lead to unruly behavior that can harm your child. So, I will share an excerpt of the article which discusses the proper steps to teach a child to approach dogs safely.

Teach every child who is interested in approaching a new dog to W-A-I-T.

If you are not the owner, no petting, even if you know the dog. If the owner has a dog on a leash, follow these steps:

W- Wait and watch to assess a dog's body language. If the dog looks angry or afraid, stop and walk away slowly.

A- Ask the owner's permission to pet the dog. If yes, then...

I- Invite the dog to sniff you by standing quietly with your hands curled at your sides. If the dog does not sniff you, then do not touch the dog.

T- Touch the dog gently, on the back only. (For young children who might have poor motor control, this is safer than petting the dog's head or chin.

The W-A-I-T program is very similar to stranger-danger programs already taught to kids in elementary school. While we certainly know that responsible pet owners raise responsible dogs, there are owners who can not maintain control of their animal. As a result, teach your child early on how to greet a dog on a lease using the W-A-I-T program.

Dog Safety | Children | Kids
USAA | W-A-I-T | Dog
Pet Friendly | Cody | Havana | Doghouse Properties

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Teach Kids to Approach Dogs Safely

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