Do's | Don'ts | The Right Way To Meet A Dog | Resources for Children and Dogs

Do’s and Don’ts for Children

Parents teach their children many important safety rules, such as: Don’t touch the electrical outlet, don’t touch the stove, don’t hit other children, cross the street only like this, and don’t go with a stranger. It takes effort to teach these, but it’s worth it to prevent injury. Dog-child interactions are in the same category.

Kids and family dogs are in the highest risk category for dog bites. Other dogs are everywhere: at a friend’s house, in the neighborhood, at an in-law’s house, at a soccer game. Your child is counting on you; so is your dog.

Do’s | Back to Top |

Model and teach the correct way to show affection, respect and kindness to dogs. Do it each time you interact with any dog, including your own. Children may:

• Watch adults interact with, touch and meet dogs in the safest way
• Under adult supervision, offer gentle, slow petting on the side of the dog’s face and under the chin
• Kiss a hand and then “give the kiss” by petting the dog slowly and gently
• Help an adult teach or show off the dog’s tricks (high five, spin, roll over, back up, take a bow, go night-night, the list is endless and kids usually are great trainers!)
• Help an adult teach or show off the dog’s obedience cues (sit, down, come, etc.)
• Play find-it games under adult supervision (find your toy, the hidden treats, or a family member)
• Help adult bake bone-shaped dog “cookies” (lots of recipes on-line)
• Help adult groom the dog
• Help adult feed the dog
• Help adult fill the dog’s water dish
• Feed treats while adult grooms the dog
• Help adult play fetch with the dog
• Help adult take the dog for walks (adult holds the leash, for fun try a double-handled leash)
• Sing quietly to the dog under adult supervision
• Count the dog’s spots, feet, ears, tail, eyes, and legs under adult supervision
• Draw pictures of the dog

Don’ts | Back to Top |

Dogs are not people. The way people show affection to each other just happens to involve gestures that most dogs find threatening. Unfortunately, most of the images on TV and in the movies show unsafe behavior with dogs. If you and your child see an ad, a TV program or a movie that features a dog, talk with the child about what was safe and unsafe. Do not allow your child to do any of the following, by accident or on purpose:

If you think your dog tolerates these things well (perhaps because he hasn’t yet growled or bitten), please read the dog warning signs. There are countless stories of children and adults doing these things repeatedly and then, one day, regretting it.

It’s usually a matter of well-meaning people interacting incorrectly with a dog, and failing to recognize early warning signs that the interaction is causing the dog stress. Help prevent injury by learning correct information about dog and human body language.

The Right Way to Meet a Dog | Back to Top |

• Breed or familiarity is not a reliable indicator that a dog is safe to pet.
• Children and adults must always ask permission before approaching any dog, even a familiar one.
• Teach your child to look at the dog’s owner or at the dog’s paw, rather than staring at the dog’s eyes, while asking for permission to pet the dog.
• If permission is granted by the owner, your child should stand sideways with relaxed arms hanging down at his or her sides.
• Do not extend hands for the dog to sniff. This is a threatening gesture and can invite a bite. (Dogs have powerful noses and can smell you readily; there’s no need to approach or extend a hand.)
• If the dog does not approach you to initiate an interaction, do not touch the dog. Instead, enjoy the dog by counting his paws, ears or spots on his coat. Admire the dog’s collar or ask the owner about the dog. But don’t touch.
• If the dog approaches, the best way to touch most dogs is with gentle strokes on the side of the face and under the chin. Do not pat the top of the head.
• Do not extend your hand towards, stare at, lean over, hug, or kiss any dog.
• When there are several kids present, they may interact with the dog one at a time only.
• When out with your dog or when you have visitors to your home, remember that most people don't know the proper way to greet a dog. Before you permit the interaction, show them what to do with their body, their eyes, and their hands. Identify and respect your dog’s stress and warning signals, and don’t ever force an interaction.

A child may be watching the interaction, so always model the correct way to greet a dog.

Resources for Children and Dogs | Back to Top |

• Happy Kids, Happy Dogs: Building a Friendship Right from the Start
• Doggone Safe: The Two Most Important things to Teach Your Kids
• San Francisco SPCA Dog Bite Prevention
• San Francisco SPCA Dogs and Kids
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Dog Bite Awareness