Dog days of fall
 Fall is a time of changing routines as family activities move into high
gear. “I receive an increased number of dog bite calls every year
during times of change such as vacation and school start up”, says
animal behaviour specialist Teresa Lewin. Changes in routine are stressful
for dogs. Anxious and upset dogs are more likely to bite and statistics
show that most bites to children are caused by a family pet.
Here are some tips to keep the dog from becoming anxious and to keep
kids safe:
- Supervise dogs and children at all times!
- When the kids are playing, secure your dog in a calmer setting with
a safe toy such as a Kong or stuffed bone. Noisy children can get dogs
very wound up and excited. This can lead to unintended injury.
- Learn to read dog body language and teach kids too. The Doggone Crazy!
board game is a fun way to learn how dogs communicate their feelings.
- Watch for signs of anxiety such as yawning, licking of chops and
half moon shape in the white of the eye (pleading look).
- Practice basic obedience with your dog for short periods several
times a day to keep her out of trouble and to stimulate her mind.
- Take kids and dog for a hike in the woods. A tired dog is a good
dog!
Dogs are important family members but it is important to remember that
they are animals and they still have natural dog behaviors and instincts.
Dogs do best when they are shown what we want them to do and are rewarded
for good behaviour. By planning ahead and providing the opportunity for
the dog to be in a low stress situation around kids, everyone is poised
for success and trouble free transition to fall routines.
For more tips on kid and K9 safety visit www.doggonecrazy.ca, www.doggonesafe.com and www.familypaws.com.
Article supplied by: Joan Orr and Teresa Lewin are the co-creators of
the educational board game, Doggone Crazy! (www.doggonecrazy.ca) and
Co-founders of Doggone Safe – non-profit organization for dog bite
prevention education and victim support (www.doggonesafe.com) © 2004 – Joan
Orr and Teresa Lewin |
