Welfare charity unveils tips to help keep kids safe from dog bites
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PARENTS are being urged to closely supervise their children when along with a dog to reduce bite incidents.
New statistics from dog welfare charity Dogs Trust have revealed that 84 per cent of parents leave their children unsupervised with dogs in their home, despite research showing the majority of bite injuries to children are caused by a dog known to the child.
The charity says many incidents could be prevented with close supervision and, with children and dogs spending more time together over the summer holidays, Dogs Trust has issued updated guidance to parents and carers in a bid to reduce the number of dog bites.
Last year, 8000 people were admitted to hospital with a dog bite injury. Some 91 per cent of dog bites to children under 14 years are from dogs known to the children in the home. Further research shows that dog bites in the home are often preceded by what can be seen as harmless interactions, such as children cuddling, hugging, brushing or kissing the dog.
Despite this, 85 per cent of parents told Dogs Trust that they leave their children and dogs together unsupervised – 55 per cent doing so very often or fairly often.
A quarter (23 per cent) of parents questioned in the YouGov survey told the charity that their dog had acted in a way around their children that had caused them concerns, including accidently injuring children through boisterous play or acting aggressively.
However, the most popular method used by parents for keeping children safe around dogs is not to separate but simply to rely on basic obedience training – 52 per cent. Just 25 per cent would put children and dogs in separate rooms, with 29 per cent of parents using a stairgate to separate dogs and children.
Dogs Trust’s new 'Three S’s' guidance has been put together with busy parents and caregivers in mind and is designed to help them to take action to prevent dog bites from occurring, by supervising and intervening (if needed) when their children and dogs are interacting:
1. Stay close – Watch, listen, and remain close during child-dog interactions.
2. Step in – Intervene when either the child or dog looks uncomfortable or acts in an unsafe way.
3. Separate – Separate the child and dog if you are likely to be preoccupied or distracted, like using a physical barrier such as a baby gate.
More information, including a short video guide, can be found at https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/childsafety
Not only is this guidance designed to prevent injury to children, it is also there to protect dogs too as the outcome of bites sometimes results in punishment to the dog and otherwise preventable relinquishment and/or euthanasia of the dog.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive at Dogs Trust, said: “Around a third of all UK households now own a dog, and most dogs live harmoniously with children without incident. But with the majority of bites happening within the home, it’s important that parents and caregivers take steps to make sure children are always supervised around dogs, even those dogs that they know very well.
“Basic training of dogs is not enough; close supervision of children and dogs while interacting is the most effective way of preventing incidents.
“Unfortunately, when the worst does happen, not only are children injured, but it can also have a devastating impact on the family pet, with some dogs handed over to organisations like ours for rehoming, or in some cases, euthanised.”
Dogs Trust is also offering parents and caregivers a new free virtual masterclass. Run by dog and education experts, it has been created to provide top tips on implementing the ‘The Three S’s’, including how to recognise subtle signs of worry in a dog that can often be missed.
To secure your place, please visit https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/childsafety
