DOG SAFETY RULES FOR PARENTS

1. Never leave a baby alone with a dog. Even a small dog such as a Pomeranian has killed a 6 month old child.*
2. Always supervise** dogs with children together. 60% of dog bite victims are children and 77% of biting dogs are known by the victim. *
3. If you already have a dog, educate it by taking an obedience course together. This will teach the dog respect for you and make it a better pet.
4. Spay or neuter your dog. Canines not sterilized are three times more likely to bite.
5. If you do not already have a dog, but want to get one for the family, it is strongly recommended you wait until your children are at least 6 years old.*

*Data Source- Texas Dept. of Health

**Supervise; Actively watch the child(ren) and dog(s) together! This does not mean sleeping in the same room while they play, or just being in the house. This means actually being in the same room, paying attention and controlling the interaction. 

FACTS and RESOURCES

1. The most common age of dogs involved in bites is 1-5 yrs old.
2. Male dogs are involved in bites 2 times more often than females.
3. Children less than 11 yrs old are 3.6 times more likely to be attacked by a dog.
4. Children under 6 are more likely to sustain head trauma in a biting incident.
5. Over half the biting dogs showed no obvious signs of aggression and over 75% have never bitten before.
6. Websites for more info-

www.tdh.state.ts.us/zoonosis/diseases/bites

www.dogexpert.com

www.dogpro.org

www.dogbiteprevention.homestead.com/index.html

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animaljourneys/petselection/consider.asp

Distributed courtesy of Great Dane Angel Network Enterprises, Inc.   www.daneangelnetwork.org