| There are certain codes of behavior and
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| | Children are the victims of the majority
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| etiquettes that we as people should
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| | of dog bites. All children should learn
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| observe and teach to our children with
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| | the above codes, plus there are
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| regards to interacting with dogs. These
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| | additional behaviors that children should
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| behaviors serve as dog bite prevention,
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| | learn when dealing with dogs and dog bite
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| such that tragedies can be avoided.
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| | prevention.
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| • Don't run past dogs. Especially
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| | • Children should always ask permission
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| important for children. Dogs have an
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| | to meet a new dog. By asking the owner of
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| inherent drive called prey drive. This
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| | the dog permission, the owner is now more
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| drive inspires them to give chase to
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| | in a mindset of supervisor. He will now
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| moving objects, tennis balls,
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| | be in better control of the dog. Never
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| neighborhood cats, or shrieking children.
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| | should a child run up to a new dog to
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| This doesn't mean that you cant go
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| | make an introduction whether or not the
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| jogging, it just means that you must
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| | owner is around. In fact, a child should
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| exercise caution when getting your daily
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| | never attempt to meet a strange dog who
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| exercise. I once had a running coach who
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| | is without an owner.
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| instructed me to stop running when I saw
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| | • Children should learn to be calm
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| a dog and walk past until safely out of
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| | around dogs. Dogs will often bite as a
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| the way. I don't necessarily recommend
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| | result of stress. A running, screaming
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| you go to this extreme but it definitely
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| | child can cause many dogs a lot of
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| wouldn't hurt with dog bite prevention.
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| | stress. This could provoke a dog bite and
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| • Allow dogs to introduce themselves to
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| | should be avoided.
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| you. A mistake many people make is to
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| | • Although children are shorter, they
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| rush up to a dog to tell him hello. Many
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| | should work to avoid being face to face
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| dogs see this as an invasion of personal
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| | with a dog. Allow the dog to instead
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| space and a threat and may react in kind.
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| | sniff the child's closed fist. This makes
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| By allowing a dog to make introductions
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| | sense on a few different levels. If a dog
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| on his terms, the level of stress he
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| | is going to bite, the last body part you
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| feels is much lower. By lowering the
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| | want near him is the head or face. Also,
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| amount of stress with the introduction
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| | the act of a child putting his face near
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| you greatly reduce the chance of a dog
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| | the face of a dog can be seen as a threat
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| bite.
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| | by the dog. This could provoke a dog
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| • When you allow the dog to meet you
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| | bite.
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| and do his obligatory sniffing, allow him
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| | • If possible, when making
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| to sniff your closed fist instead of your
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| | introductions to new dogs, children
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| open hand. If he does decide to bite,
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| | should be still, higher in elevation than
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| much less damage will be done. Better to
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| | the dog (sitting in a chair or on the lap
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| get bitten on a closed fist than to lose
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| | of an adult), and calm. Allow the dog to
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| a finger by taking a direct bite to your
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| | come make the introduction on terms that
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| digits.
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| | are comfortable for him.
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| • When a new dog is approaching to meet
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| | • Children would be do well to feed new
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| you, position your body at a sideways
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| | dogs a treat. By making an immediate
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| slant. This is a much less threatening
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| | positive association between child and
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| posture than a straight-on affront. It is
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| | dog you are much more likely to avoid a
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| a more submissive posture and makes a new
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| | dog bite.
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| dog feel more at ease.
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| | Above all, use common sense when dealing
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| • Don't have staring contests with
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| | with man's best friend. Common sense is
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| strange dogs. Some dogs will see this as
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| | the best form of dog bite prevention.
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| an invitation for conflict.
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