When Kids and Dog Meet on the Street

The interaction between a child and a strange dog can be a sweet moment and an endearing one that hopefully inspires them to make a dog a part of their family someday. Unfortunately, there are about 5 million dog bites a year with about 500,000 of those involving a child requiring medical attention. But, by taking simple precautions, this meet and greet can be a pleasant experience that leaves everyone with a smile on their face.

Kids and dogs meeting on the street can be adorable when all goes well. Here are some tips on making that experience as pleasant as possible.

Asking someone if their dog is friendly is a polite way of letting them know you抎 like to pet their dog. It抯 an especially good way to teach children that all dogs aren抰 interested in being touched by a stranger?so be careful.

No matter the weather, we all want to venture outside for a walk in the neighborhood including our four legged friends. While most dogs are friendly, wonderful, and playful, every dog has the capacity to feel threatened and may react in an unexpected way.

Since you can抰 judge a dog抯 demeanor based on its cuteness, here are some tips so everyone gets along. Tips for a child to approach a dog and its owner:

1. Ask the owner if their dog is friendly and if they can pet their dog

2. Offer a back hand fist or hand out with fingers down

3. Let the dog approach the child to sniff

4. Pet a dog gently reaching from the side, not over its head

5. Ask to offer their dog a treat as dogs remember those who reward them

Since some dogs may not be familiar with children抯 sounds and actions, it抯 a good idea for children to refrain from screaming, squealing, and running. Even puppies who may seem harmless love to nip, chew, and chase small children which could be fun or frightening for both parties.

Some dogs perceive direct eye contact as threatening. That might present a problem when your child is standing face to face with them. You抣l want to be close enough to all of them to intervene if there抯 a problem.

Americans love dogs ?we own more than 65 million of them. Unfortunately, there are about 5 million dog bites a year according the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC says nearly 1 million of those bites required medical attention with half of those involving children.

The interaction between a child and a strange dog can be a sweet moment and an endearing one that hopefully inspires them to make a dog a part of their family someday. By taking simple precautions, it can be a pleasant experience that leaves everyone with a smile on their face.