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When the Dog Bites

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Annie, a spirited 3 1/2-year-old with sparkling blue eyes, is like most little girls her age. She loves to play dolls, wear pink dresses and ride her scooter. But the sight of a dog approaching sends her scrambling in fear into her mother’s arms. Annie wasn’t afraid of dogs until a year ago when a relative’s small dog bit her in the face as she reached out to pet it. While luckily she suffered only minor injuries, the emotional impact on the bubbly blonde proved more lasting.

“She literally shakes when a dog comes near her or tries to lick her hand,” says Annie’s mother, Karen Conklin of Olathe. “I have talked with her that we should not approach dogs unless an owner says it is safe and she feels comfortable. She really likes animals and we hope that her fear of dogs will subside.”

 

Dr. Stephen Lassen, associate professor of behavioral pediatrics at KU Medical Center, says that childhood fears are common. “Fears regarding dogs tend to peak at age 5, then decline over time,” Lassen says. “(Children) need to know that their parents are available to help, support, protect and reassure them.”

 

On the other hand, Lassen says parents should not change their lives to accommodate a fear. Don’t stop visiting friends with dogs or avoid going on walks because your child is afraid he might encounter a dog. “Although it is difficult ... stick with (your) routines and activities as much as possible,” he says.

 

Rein in any desire to run out and add a dog to the family in a quick-fix attempt to “cure” your child of his fear. “All of a sudden having a dog running around the house may increase the child’s anxiety instead of reducing it,” Lassen says. Instead, take a more measured approach. Show your child pictures of dogs and read books about dogs. Not Afraid of Dogs by Susanna Pitzer and May I Pet Your Dog? by Stephanie Calmenson are good choices.

 

Then, visit a pet store and look at the dogs in their enclosures. When your child is ready, hold a dog and have your child pet it. Lassen also advises that you teach your child relaxation methods like deep breathing during exposure to the animal, and teach them to replace negative thoughts with self-confident thoughts like “I can do this.”

 

If your child continues to struggle with coping or exhibits significant changes in behavior and mood, consult with a child psychologist familiar with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children.

 

Fear of dogs isn’t necessarily counterintuitive. The CDC reports that 60 percent of people bitten by dogs are under the age of 12, with 5- to 9-year-olds most at risk.

 

“A child has a greater chance of being bitten by a dog than being in a tornado or fire,” says Jo Dean Hearn, humane educator at Wayside Waifs, a Kansas City animal adoption center. That’s why she makes it her business to teach area youngsters pet safety tips, including how to approach dogs and how to respond to a stray or an aggressive animal.

The Safe Approach

Teach your child to ask permission from you and the dog’s owner before petting a leashed dog. If the owner says yes, accompany your child and use body language to ask the dog for permission to pet it. Show your child to hold her hand in a fist and let it sniff the back of her hand. If it’s okay, move to its side and pet the dog along the area between the neck and the tail. Avoid the dog’s head, ears or face, and never stare at it in the eyes.

 

Freeze Don’t Flee

If approached by a stray, tell your child not to run screaming because a dog’s instinct is to chase what runs. “Don’t move a muscle and never say a word out loud,” Hearn says. Slowly turn around so the dog can’t see your eyes. Lock your hands and fingers together under your chin and freeze, pretending to be a tree. “The dog will likely go away because you are boring.”

 

If, however, a dog runs after you and knocks you down,“stop, drop and be a rock.” Cover the back of your neck with your fingers and your ears with your arms and quietly wait until the dog goes away. Even if the dogs bites, Hearn says, stay put and stay quiet. Kicking and screaming will incite the dog to continue the attack. As soon as the dog goes away, find an adult immediately, seek medical attention if necessary and give a detailed description of the dog.

 

Why Dogs Bite

Any dog can potentially turn aggressive, especially if it is scared, hurt or feeling territorial. Since a dog can’t speak, it communicates through body language. “A dog will always give a warning before it bites,” Hearn says.

Common sense will tell you to stay away from a dog that growls, shows its teeth or has its hair raised on the back of its neck. Also use caution around a frightened or hurt animal. A scared dog, for example, will tuck its tail between its legs under its stomach.

Guard your child by following these safety tips:

For more information on dog safety,

www.WaysideWaifs.org, visit www.BowWowOw.com or the ASPCA.org.

Christa Hines, a freelance writer, lives in Olathe with her family and their two not-so-scary dogs.

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