Dogs bite and snap and snarl at each other from puppyhood on. It's part of the canine vocabulary -- but one they have to learn to control when they're around human beings, with our furless, sensitive skin and litigious society. And nowhere do they need to learn that control more than when around those most provocative and vulnerable members of the human family, children.
The secret to keeping your kids safe from dog bites is two-fold: Teach your children dog safety, and, if you have dogs, teach them to be safe around children. In this week's Pet Connection, Dr. Rolan and Susan Tripp lay out a parental plan of action to accomplish exactly that:
Every year about a thousand people a day turn up in emergency rooms with dog bites, from pets of all sizes, shapes, breeds and mixes. Most of these victims are school-aged children, with bites to the face being the most common, and boys being seen more often than girls.
Many of these bites could have been prevented, with some parental guidance and care beforehand. How can parents help dogs and children to get along? Make sure your children know the basics for enjoying time with dogs safely:
Play by the rules. Children and dogs benefit from the exercise and enjoyment of playtime. Rough play and dog wrestling are against the rules. So is running around shrieking and waving arms wildly. Your children must learn to be calm and relaxed around dogs, and that play must stop if a dog gets wound up or is uncomfortable with the level of activity.
Along with the rest of the tips for raising kid-safe dogs and dog-safe kids, you'll find: tips on preventing chewing and other forms of canine destructive behavior; a new "pet hotel" opening at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport; a report on where pet owners get advice about their animals; a how-to guide on making kitten toys; and a review of the fascinating and the practical in new animal books:
Authors John Lloyd and John Mitchinson are the authors of The New York Times best-selling "Book of General Ignorance," and their beastly follow-up is full of often unbelievable (but absolutely true) facts about the animal kingdom. It's a can't-put-it-down read.
Did you know, for instance, that a female komodo dragon doesn't need a male to reproduce? That an elephant's trunk is powerful enough to kill a lion with a single blow, yet delicate enough to pick up a grain of rice? That a mole will die if it goes more than eight hours without eating? Now you do.
What if your search for animal knowledge is more practical in nature? If, like most dog or cat owners, you need information on how to cut your pet's nails rather than on the mating habits of the hyena? Two new books from Arden Moore have you covered.
All that and yes... MORE... over at Universal Press Syndicate's Pet Connection, written by the team that produces this blog.
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