Proper Interaction Techniques

Teach your children the following basic rules of safety around dogs:

• Always approach dogs slowly and carefully.
• Always ask the owner's permission before petting a dog.
• Always protect your face, neck and arms. If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
• Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Do not ever tease a dog.
• Do not make loud noises around dogs.
• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
• If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.
• If you do not have permission, never enter a yard with a dog in it. Better yet, wait for the owner to enter the yard with you.
• If you're attacked, give the dog a book or backpack to chew on. Cover your head and neck, and protect your face.
• Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
• Keep away from stray dogs.
• Know where the dogs in your neighborhood live.
• Never approach an unfamiliar dog. Remember that not every dog that wags its tail is friendly.
• Never leave a baby alone with a dog.
• Never play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
• Never put your face close to a dog.
• Never put your hand between two dogs.
• Never reach through a fence to pet a dog.
• Never run from a dog and scream.
• Never try to help a hurt dog; get an adult to help.
• Remain calm and motionless when approached by an unfamiliar dog (e.g., "be still like a tree").
• When meeting a new dog, let it come to you and smell you first.