For Parents…
…Parents Against Canine Killers

Severe dog maulings of children, dog mauling fatalities of children, and bites to the neck and face of a children often involve the family’s own dog or that of a friend or neighbor. The owner of the dog, often the family itself, are shocked and bewildered that their loving companion was even capable of such an atrocity. Read More.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN
Do not leave your infant or young child alone. Read More: Husky dog kills six day old baby in crib.

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1. Adding a dog to the family Choosing your pet.

 

     A. Dual purpose family pet and guard or protection dog. Read More: Father had warned others to stay away from his dog, but not his own son. Zachary King, Aug 16, 2007, stood trial for 2nd degree manslaughter of his own son. Article on trincities.com has been archived.
     B. Guard or protection dog that is not also a family pet
     C. Found a stray
     D. Expecting a baby and already have a dog
     E. Purchasing a dog for my baby, toddler, or young child.



2. What you should know about PACK behavior and dominance hierarchy
3. What your children should know about dogs.
   
   

MY CHILD WAS A VICTIM OF A DOG ATTACK OR MAULING

 

Checking the dog out yourself:

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1. What is the temperament of the dog?  
2. Is there more than one dog (see PACK instincts)? 
3. Does your child or other children pass the dog alone or with other children? 
4. Is the enclosure safe, or is there evidence that he has been digging under the fence?
5. Can he jump over the fence? 
6. Is the gate that contains him the same gate that anyone could leave open who comes and goes from the property?
7. Is the dog on the way to the bus stop or a friend’s house?
8. Has she ever seen the dog outside of his yard?
9. Do you know the owners? Are they friendly and willing to talk to you about their dog?
10. Is there a dog where your child will play today?  Read More: 3 year old playing at neighbor's house dragged into dog house and killed by chained pitbull. July 22, 2008 Jackson, Mississippi

(Previous link not currently available, has been archived).
Read more: 5 year old girl fatally mauled by pit bull at friend’s house.

Besides checking out the dog yourself, you should also discuss dog safety with your child: You may have a very nice dog of your own that has a strong and loving social bond to your child. Your child needs to understand that not all dogs are like their own dog.

Choosing Your Pet

 

 

What your children should know about dogs

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A dog can be a wonderful friend and member of the family, yet precautions and knowledge are important when dogs are mixed with children. Dogs sometimes bite or even kill children. Approximately half of all Americans will be bitten by a dog in their life. Many will end up in the hospital. Some will die. I know it’s harsh, but it’s true, and it’s better to have the hard facts before it is a hard reality.

Half of all bites to children are from their family’s dog and 90% are from dog the child was acquainted with prior to the bite or attack. In children under 10 years of age, generally suffer the worst injuries that usually involve the face, head and neck. 77% of the dogs who maul children belong to the family or a friend of the victim. 61% occur at home or in a familiar place. In children under 4 years of age, the family dog was responsible for 47% of the maulings, and 90% occurred in the family home. Leaving an infant unattended in an infant swing has triggered fatal maulings by the dog owned by the family.

Be sure that your family dog is of a proper temperament and genetic heritage for the degree of access he has to your children.  Your local veterinarian an be a valuable resource to give you guidance in areas of breed(s) that your dog may be, the history and intended usage of that breed as well as temperament of your individual dog and socialization issues.

Your veterinarian may perform temperament testing for you, or direct you to a professional the know to be able to perform temperament testing for you.

There are also veterinarians Board Certified in animal behavior who deal specifically with behavioral issues.

Training can only go so far, as the training mostly applies to the trainer and the person giving the commands and has much less to do with how the dog  will treat a child. Early socialization, during the time when the puppy may unfortunately be in a puppy mill or pet shop, is important in developing the dog’s trust in people. 

Talk to your child about your dog as well as other dogs she may know.

Check the dog out yourself. 

For younger children it may be simplified to:

• Don’t touch any dog unless mommy or daddy is right with you and says it’s okay.
• Stay away from dogs that are eating.
• Stay away from dogs that are resting.
• Move slowly around dogs.
• Don’t take anything from a dog.
• Stay well away from any dog unless mommy or daddy is right with you.

For children with a greater level of understanding it may be simplified to:

• Never try to come between two dogs who are fighting.
• Never try to stop a dog attack yourself, get an adult immediately.
• Avoid sudden movements when petting a dog, and avoid the dog’s face.
• Stay away from a dog that is eating.
• Stay away from a dog that is sleeping, don’t ever step over a sleeping dog, avoid playing near or tripping over a sleeping dog .
• Stay away from a dog that is nursing her puppies, don’t handle her puppies unless an adult hands it to you.
• Stay away from a dog that is on a chain.
• Don’t take anything from a dog, have your parent or other adult do it for you.
• Don’t ever corner a dog.
• Don’t ever touch a dog that is in a car or in the back of a truck, the smaller the area he’s protecting, the more vicious he can be about it.
• Don’t hit or kick a dog.
• Don’t run past a dog.
• Don’t play rough with a dog.
• Don’t hold a dog tightly, especially over his back or around the neck.
• Don’t go near a dog unless the owner is present and you have your parent’s permission.
• Don’t ever play with the neighbor or friend’s dog when your parent or the owner isn’t right with you.
• Don’t reach out to a strange dog, tell a grown up if you see a new dog in the neighborhood.
• Don’t pet a stranger’s dog even with their permission unless your parent is right with you.
• Don’t go near an injured dog.
• Don’t go near a dog in a parked car or in the back of a truck.
• Don’t touch a dog where he hurts.
• If more than one dog is present-stay away! Don’t ever go into a yard with more than one dog loose in it.
• When you enter a yard or place look for signs that a dog may live there such as a dog house, dog bowls, dog toys, worn areas where they run - leave immediately if there are signs that a dog lives there. Come back with your parent or other trusted adult.
• Don’t ever play with more than one dog at a time, unless your parents are with you.
• Avoid big or muscular dogs.
• Avoid dogs that look part wolf or coyote.
• If a strange dog approaches you: move slowly toward safety, try not to show fear, avoid staring him in the eyes, and don’t make any sudden moves (unless safety is close and you can make it in time…for instance you’re standing beside a car-get in! beside a dog proof gate-get out and close it!
• If a dog is attacking someone: climb up high, go inside, get on the other side of a fence and call for help if possible. The exception is the brave boy who saved the young boy from a dog attack. He could have lost his life in the process.
• If more than one dog approaches a group of kids on bikes: build a barricade around you with the bikes and call for help. Keep a cell phone with you if possible.
• If someone leaves you alone with a dog, go into a room, close the door and wait until an adult returns or call for help
• If a dog attacks you, roll tightly in a ball to keep him from getting your face and the front of your neck
• Avoid places where mean dogs are on the other side of a fence, alert your parents

For teens and older it may be simplified to:

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If you must walk in wide open places, carry at least a large, strong, preferably pointed stick for protection, it won’t prevent all dog attacks, especially if more than one dog is involved, but some dogs won‘t attack if you have any type of weapon pointed at them. If the dog still attacks, I know it sounds rough, but try to poke the stick down his throat.

Pepper spray can be protective in some instances, but it is not useful if the dog is aggressive and has already decided to attack. In some breeds it is reported to not be effective.

Taking a dominant stance and making loud noises will deter many dogs, but where selective breeding for aggression, socialization and/or training have created a particularly dangerous dog, and when more than one of these dogs is involved, this approach is useless.


Read More: Scenarios to discuss with your children.