Dog safety advice for families

It's important to supervise your child when they're around dogs

Excited toddlers and excitable dogs can be a tricky mix, and the introduction of a new baby into a family that already has a dog takes a good amount of preparation. Follow these tips to create a safe environment for your child and dogs...

Introducing your new baby to your pet dog

• It’s important for dogs to obey their owners, so those that have completed some obedience training will probably find it easier to adjust to a new family member.
• Making changes to your usual routine before the new baby arrives is a good idea. Cut down the number of walks you take with your dog each day, as you’ll probably have to do so when the baby’s arrived.
• Encourage your dog not to go upstairs, especially if your nursery will be there.
• If you’re introducing your dog to your baby for the first time, keep him on a lead so he can view the baby from a distance at first. He may want to sniff and get a closer look, but it’s best to keep him further away at this stage.
• By introducing your baby gradually, dogs can learn to accept them with less anxiety. Short, well-controlled interactions can help dogs to get used to the often loud and unpredictable nature of small children.

Child safety advice

• While children often do become best buddies with the family pet, it’s important to keep safety in mind at all times.
• Dogs should never be left unattended with babies and even if your child is a toddler, parents should make sure they continue to supervise at all times. Curious toddlers can often tug and poke without realising that dogs may not like this attention.
• If you’re thinking of buying a dog and you already have a family, then it’s crucial to check that the dog has no record of aggression or killing animals before parting with your cash. Also make sure the dog is not known to dislike children, and take your child along with you before you make a decision, as this will help identify which dog they’re likely to get on with.
• It’s important to remember that there is no completely safe breed of dog. Beware of relying too much on breed stereotypes – while there are general breed characteristics, it’s all down to the individual dog and any breed of dog can be dangerous.
• When your child is old enough, teach them how to behave safely around your dog. Show them how to gently stoke their head and tell them to avoid running and screaming around your pet. Make sure they don’t stare at the dog, take any of its toys, or put their face too close to the dog’s face.

If your child is bitten by a dog

If a dog bites your child, you should take the following action:

• Clean the wound with running water as soon as possible for 10 minutes to reduce the chance of infection.
• Cover it with a sterile dressing.
• If there is a lot of bleeding or the wound is large, deep or dirty, see a doctor or nurse.
• Animal bites abroad are potentially more serious because of the risk of rabies in some countries, so if this occurs, seek medical attention as soon as possible.