I’ve decided to make my three-part article about dogs and children available for free. This subject is near and dear to my heart as well as just being extremely important information. Most dog bites to children happen to the face and can be traumatizing, disfiguring or even fatal. If both dogs and children are taught from a young age how to safely and respectfully interact they can build a beautiful friendship together.

[ PART ONE ] [ PART TWO ] [ PART THREE ] [PART FOUR]

I felt like my Dogs and Children articles overlooked (or in the very least, skimmed) over a couple of very important aspects when thinking of dogs and children. Part four is my way of expanding on those aspects. If you haven’t yet, please go back and read parts one, two and three of my Dogs and Children articles to fully understand the unique yet wonderful relationship kids and dogs have.

If you’d like to see more articles about dog body language and behavior, let me know!

Always Ask Permission

One of the most important things we can teach our children about interacting with strange dogs is to always ask permission before petting them. Since we don’t know the disposition of life experiences of every dog we encounter, it’s important to err on the side of caution when introducing yourself or your child to a new dog. Always ask the owners if you can pet their dog and respect whatever their answer is. Every dog is not put on this world for us to pet (as much as we’d like them to be) and if a dog is not comfortable with being pet or an owner does not want them being pet (for whatever reason) then it’s important to respect that. Petting a dog who doesn’t want to be pet can cause lasting trauma to that dog. For all you know that dog is getting over a traumatic experience involving a persons hands and your movement towards their head just set them back by weeks. Maybe the owner is training their dog to be a service dog and you petting them is distracting from their very important job. Maybe neither dog or person likes interacting with strangers and you know what, that’s okay. How other people feel and think about you is none of your business. Just accept their response and move on with your day.

Be Mindful of HOW the Dog is Pet

When petting a dog, especially a strange dog that you don’t know, it’s important to remember not to reach over top of the dogs head when you pet them. Not all dogs like being touched on the head, and even dogs that do, don’t usually appreciate strangers reaching over top of their head. This is a threatening move to most dogs and can be especially threatening to a nervous or unsure dog.

Instead, reach your hand out calmly for the dog to first sniff. Don’t bring your hand all the way to the dog, hold it out in front of you and allow the dog to come to you to sniff. Once the dog has sniffed you and seems okay with your presence then reach forward to pet their chest and shoulders. Pet slowly and calmly, don’t aggressively pat or scruff up a dog you don’t know. That kind of interaction is best saved for dogs who know you and enjoy that type of touch.

Teach your children this is the proper way to greet a strange dog. Kids tend to get bit in the face because it’s at the right height for a dog to snap at. A kid who reaches over a dogs head to pet them is a kid opening their face up to being bit if the dog is uncomfortable with being pet that way.

Understand Dog Body Language

Whether interacting with a strange dog or a family pet, it’s important to understand dog body language so that you can pick up on the subtle cues your dog is giving you before they become not-so-subtle. Dogs speak volumes with very little so you need to learn these cues and be very keen to watch for them. If your child is old enough, teach them about these cues as well.

If a dog is feeling nervous or unsure then it’s important to back off. There are some important canine body language cues you should know how to recognize and respond to.

WHALE EYE

It is known as “whale eye” when you can see the whites of a dogs eye. They will be turning their eyes and the white in the corner of the eye will be visible. This is a nervous dog.

EARS BACK

If a dog has it’s ears pinned back it usually means they are not happy about something, or may be feeling nervous or uncomfortable. When a dog is relaxed or happy their ears tend to sit up or forward (depending on the way the type of ears).

LIP LICKING

Nervous dogs will often lick their lips repeatedly. Lip licking is a major indicator that a dog could potentially bite.

YAWNING

Dogs don’t always just yawn when they’re tired. When accompanied with other nervous behavior signs (often paired with lip licking) it is an indication that a dog is unsure and nervous.

AVOIDANCE

When a dog shows avoidance behavior they are trying to physically remove themselves from the situation that is making them uncomfortable. If they’re on a leash or in an enclosed space they will not be able to avoid very far. Flight or Fight is the instinct in all mammals to either stay and fight or run away from a threat. If the option to run away is removed (whether in an enclosed space or on a leash) the animal will most likely resort to fighting. This is when bites happen. As soon as you see a dog avoiding something by moving their head away, shrinking back, moving their body back, getting low, trying to escape, then you need to remove that pressure that is scaring them. Whether that’s you, a child, or something else. If the pressure is not removed and there is no option to flee the dog will likely resort to a bite.

GROWLING

Just like the rest of these behaviors listed above, growling should be viewed as a communication tool for your dog. It’s a way for the dog to communicate that something is happening that they don’t like. It’s a warning that a bite may soon follow. It’s really important to never punish a growl. If you punish a growl you may end up removing the growl completely and then you’re left with a dog who bites without a warning.

How to Handle These Behaviors

Teach your children about these cues from dogs that mean they’ve had enough attention. Teach your child that as soon as they see these cues it’s time to stop interacting with the dog and give them space.

If it is your dog exhibiting these behaviors when interacting with children (or really, anyone) then consider it a big red flag that your dog needs some work. Consult a dog behaviorist or dog trainer who understands dog behavior. Your dog may need some work in exposure training (in a controlled setting). Don’t leave them alone with children and supervise all interactions. Watch for the above signs that your dog is uncomfortable and give them more space if they need it.