How to prevent a dog bite?

Dog bites are more common in children than in adults, and the possibility of severe injuries is especially significant. Most bites come from familiar dogs, which emphasizes the importance of preventive measures.
  • Never leave your child alone with any dog.
  • Teach your child to never approach an unfamiliar dog or a dog behind a fence on his/her own.
  • If the dog has an owner, teach the child to pet it only with the owner's consent. Before petting, it is necessary for you and the child to gain the dog's trust - let it first take a look at you and sniff you. Do not look the dog in the eyes and avoid petting it on the head, legs, paws or tail.
  • Teach children to treat dogs with dignity and unobtrusively - not to tease dogs, not to approach them suddenly, not to make sudden and quick movements, and not to shout and make noise near them.
  • Do not allow children to play with dogs in a rough way or disturb them when they sleep, eat or care for their young. This can provoke the animal to attack.
  • Teach your child not to pull the dog by the ears and tail; instead, show him/her how to pet it, gently, in the direction of hair growth, from head to tail.
  • Teach your toddler not to try to snatch a toy from a dog's mouth.
  • Since it is possible that the child and the dog may compete for food, do not feed the child near the pet or allow the child to disturb the pet while eating.
  • Don't forget that hugging and kissing dogs is not natural for them and that such actions can scare the dog even more, especially if it is not your pet.
  • If you are a dog owner, be sure to have your pet chipped and regularly vaccinated against rabies and other diseases, as advised by a veterinarian.
  • Do not instill fear of dogs in your child; however, you must explain to him/her that a dog can sometimes be aggressive, bark and growl because it is hungry, scared, etc.
  • If a child is afraid of dogs or a dog scares him/her at some point, teach him/her not to run away, but to stand still or move away slowly.
  • What to do when confronted with an aggressive dog? If a child is confronted with a dog that growls, barks or otherwise behaves aggressively, it is necessary to remain level-headed, not to shout, not to look the dog in the eyes and slowly move away from the animal.
  • If the dog knocks the child down, make sure that the child curls into a ball, head and legs towards the chest to protect the face and eyes, with his/her hands on the back of his/her head.