AUSTRALIANS AGAINST BSL

Despite 12,000 years of living with dogs, they remain largely misunderstood by humans. When a dog bites we interpret this in human terms when in most cases the bite is a normal dog behavior. The dog that bites is not necessarily a mean dog or a bad dog - he is just a dog who's wanring signs were ignored. To prevent dog bites we need to understand what causes the dog to bite and reduce risk through modification of both human and dog behavior. We can do this by educating ourselves on how to interact with dogs correctly and learing what signs to look for in an uncomfortable dog.

Tips for parents and dog owners to help keep kids safe:

 

THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO TEACH YOUR KIDS

• Dogs don’t like Hugs and Kisses

      Teach your kids not to hug or kiss a dog on the face. Hugging the family dog or face-to-face         contact are common causes of bites to the face. Instead, teach kids to scratch or pat the               dog on the back, chest or back of the neck.

• Be a Tree if a Strange Dog Approaches

      Teach kids to stand still and silent, like a tree if a unknown dog approaches. Trees are 

      boring and the dog will eventually go away. This works for strange dogs, as well as anytime        the family dog becomes too excited.

• Never Tease or Scare a Dog

      Teach kids to respect a dog's space. Never disturb a dog that’s sleeping, eating or protecting       something like a toy. Sneaking up on a dog, trying to take away a bone or food , pulling their        tail or ears, or jumping on them will upset even the most tolerant dogs. 

 

TWO IMPORTANT THINGS PARENTS CAN DO

• Supervise at All Times
  Don’t assume your well behaved dog is good with kids. If a toddler must interact with your dog, you should have your hands on the dog too. Even if your dog is great with kids and has never bitten, doesn't mean they won't. If your dog gives a warning sign such as a growl, remove the child from the situation - do not punish the dog for giving a warning, this will only confuse your dog. Never leave any children alone with ANY dogs even for a few minutes. 

• Train your Dog
  Take your dog to obedience classes where positive-reinforcement is used. Never pin, shake, choke, hold the dog down or roll the dog over to teach it a lesson. Dogs treated this way are more likely to become aggressive if they feel threatened. Involve older children in training the family dog while supervising. Don’t allow children to punish the dog. Condition the dog to enjoy the presence and actions of children using positive experiences such as food and toy rewards. 

 

THREE IMPORTANT THINGS DOG OWNERS CAN DO

• Spay or Neuter your Dog
  Neutered pets can be calmer, healthier and less likely to be aggressive. Neutering prevents unwanted dogs that may end up in less than ideal conditions where they may grow up to be poorly socialised, have behavioural issues or aggression. Only dogs with exceptional temperaments, where parentage is known and full health checks have been completed should be bred.

• Condition Your Dog for the World
  Give your puppy lots of new positive experiences both inand outside of the home. Train and socialise your dog using positive methods e.g. clicker training, and toy or food rewards. Dog's left in back yards or chained are 100% more likely to bite than dogs that are exposed to different environments, animals and treated as part of the family. 

• Be Responsible for your Dog
  Supervise your dog at all times, particularly around children. If visiting children or adults are bothering your dog, put the dog away or send the visitors home. If your dog is not comfortable with strangers, do not introduce him and keep your dog on lead at all times while going for a walk. Ensure you have good fencing and seek behavioural advice if your dog is showing any unwanted behaviours.