Most working mums know the scene. You are on a call, the children are in the park with a grandparent, and a strange dog bounds over to say hello. Nine times out of ten it is harmless, but the tenth time can change a family’s year.
Teaching children how to behave around dogs is one of the simplest safety lessons you can give them. It travels with you too, because families who relocate for work face new dogs and new rules. If your career takes you to Oklahoma City, the team at Warhawk Legal is one local example of where families turn after a bite there.
Photo by mali desha on Unsplash
Why Are Children More Likely to Be Bitten?
Size is a big part of it. A young child’s face is often level with a dog’s head, so a bite that would hit an adult’s hand can reach a cheek instead. Children also move quickly, shout and hug, which many dogs find threatening.
The good news is that most bites can be prevented. The Dogs Trust guide for grown-ups states that experts agree most dog bites are preventable. Close supervision is the main tool it recommends.
Familiar dogs matter as much as strangers. Many bites happen with a dog the child knows, such as a relative’s pet or a friend’s family dog. Feeling...