According to the Humane Society of the United States, 50 percent of children will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday. Children under the age of 5 are most likely to be bitten, and most of these bites come from a dog that the child knows, such as the family dog or that of a relative or friend.

Why are children more likely to be bitten by dogs than adults? A child moves faster than an adult; fast movement stimulates a dog’s prey drive and can sometimes elicit its chasing instinct. Children talk in higher pitched voices than adults, which can sometimes startle a dog and make it fearful. Children may frustrate a dog with rough play and teasing or inadvertently inflict pain with the pull of a tail or a poke in the eye. Younger children are closer to a dog’s eye level, making it easier for a dog to feel threatened by eye-to-eye contact and for the child to be bitten in the face. It is also much harder for a child to read and understand a dog’s body language; they can miss vital signals that would warn an adult to back off.

Remember to teach your child to always ask the owner if they may pet a dog. Let your child know that tail pulling is a BIG “no no”. When it comes to young children education is always the best. You tell your children not to talk to strangers then tell your child not to approach a dog that is a stranger. The “Act Like a Tree” is always good if an angry dog approaches. Teach your child to plant their feet firmly on the ground, not to move, and avoid eye contact with the dog. “Act Like a Tree” is the “Stop, Drop, Roll” (used in teaching children if they catch on fire) for behavior that needs to be used with aggressive dogs.