Dog Safety Checklist For Kids

Dogs can be fun to play with, but remember - a dog is not a toy. Learn the following rules and share them with your family and

friends:

Always be kind and
gentle with your dog, and never poke, step on or pull your dog’s hair, ears or tail.

Always ask a dog’s owner if you may pet the dog.
There may be a very good reason why a dog should not be
touched. He may be “on duty” as a handicapped person’s
helper, or he may be hurt, sick, or afraid of kids.

Approach a dog from the front or side.
Hold your hands low and speak softly. If you surprise a dog
from behind, wave your hands in the air, or yell, you could
scare the dog and cause him to try to bite you.

Let a dog eat and sleep in peace.
A dog who is eating may think you are going to take his food
away if you come too close, so be sure to leave him alone
until he is done. If a dog is sleeping, you might scare him if
you come too close and wake him up, so wait until he wakes
up by himself.
Watch out for special toys.
Some dogs have strong feelings for their balls and chew toys
- just like you do with your favorite toys! You wouldn’t want
someone to grab your favorite toy away from you, so don’t
take a bone or toy from a dog’s mouth
.

Respect a dog’s space.
Dogs naturally protect their territories. Sticking your hand
inside a strange dog’s pen, through a fence or in a car window
where a dog is sitting may cause him to bite to protect
his property.

See more helpful information at:
www.akc.org