Keeping Your Child Safe Around Dogs

The Scope of the Problem

Dog bites are more common than most parents realize. Every year, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States, and the majority of those are children. Children between the ages of five and nine are at the highest risk, and younger children often suffer the worst injuries.

What makes these numbers even more alarming is that most dog bites involving children occur in familiar settings. The vast majority of dog bites to children come from dogs they know, either the family dog or a friend's or neighbor's dog. More than half of these incidents occur at home.

Why Children Are at Higher Risk

Several factors make children particularly vulnerable to dog bites. Understanding those factors can help you ward off the most common risks.

• Size: Young children are smaller and closer to a dog's level, increasing the risk of serious injury.
• Unpredictable behavior: Children move quickly, make sudden gestures, and produce high-pitched sounds that can startle or excite dogs.
• Lack of understanding: Young children don't yet grasp that dogs are animals with their own needs, boundaries, and ways of communicating. A toddler may see a dog as a living stuffed animal to hug, climb, or pull on. 
• Inability to read warning signs: Most dog bites don't happen "out of the blue." Dogs give warning signals through body language, but children often miss or misinterpret these cues. They may not recognize when a dog is becoming uncomfortable or stressed.
• Limited impulse control: Children may approach dogs impulsively without thinking about whether it's safe or whether the dog wants interaction.

Understanding Why Dogs Bite

Dogs can bite for a variety of reasons, including:

• Fear or anxiety: A dog that feels cornered, threatened, or frightened may bite in self-defense.
• Protection of resources: Dogs may become protective of their food, toys, beds, or even a favorite person. This behavior is called resource guarding.
• Pain or illness: A dog in pain may bite when touched, even if the person touching them means well. Sick dogs may also be more irritable and less tolerant of handling.
• Overstimulation: Rough play can escalate quickly, and an excited dog may nip or bite without realizing how hard.
• Poor socialization: Dogs that aren’t properly socialized with children may not know how to behave around them and may react unpredictably.
• Startling: Approaching a sleeping dog, sneaking up from behind, or suddenly reaching for a dog can startle them into a defensive bite.

Keeping Children Safe Around Dogs

1. Never Leave Young Children Unsupervised with Dogs

Children under 6 years old should never be left unsupervised with a dog, even if it's the family pet. A parent in the same room sleeping doesn't count as supervision, either. Active supervision means watching the interaction and being ready to intervene if either the child or dog shows signs of stress or discomfort.

2. Always Ask Permission Before Approaching a Dog

Teach your children that they must always ask the dog's owner for permission before petting any dog. This practice applies to unfamiliar dogs and to dogs belonging to friends and neighbors. Even if the owner says yes, teach your child to watch the dog's reaction. If the dog backs away, hides behind the owner, or shows other signs of discomfort, respect the dog's choice and don't force interaction.

3. Approach Dogs the Right Way

If a child has permission to greet a dog, teach them the right way to do it:

• Move slowly and calmly. Quick movements can startle dogs. Approach from the side rather than head-on, which can seem threatening to dogs.
• Let the dog come to you. Stand still and let the dog approach and sniff you first. Hold out a closed fist, allowing the dog to sniff the back of your hand. Never reach over the dog's head.
• Pet in safe areas. If the dog seems comfortable, pet gently on the side of the neck or back. Avoid reaching for the face, ears, paws, or tail. Use smooth, downward strokes rather than patting or clapping hands around the dog's head.
• Pause and check in. After a few pets, pause and see if the dog wants more attention or if it moves away. If the dog walks away, let it go.
  

4. Know When to Stay Away

Children need to know that there are times when they should never approach a dog, even one they know well, and even with an adult present. Always stay away if the dog is:

• Eating
• Chewing on a toy or bone
• Sleeping or resting
• In a crate or behind a fence
• Caring for puppies
• Injured or sick
  

These scenarios increase the likelihood that the dog will feel territorial or react defensively when startled.

5. Use the "Be a Tree" Technique

Sometimes a dog will approach a child unexpectedly. Teach your child to "be a tree”:

• Plant your roots. Stand still. Don't run, scream, or make sudden movements. Running can trigger a dog's chase instinct.
• Fold your branches. Clasp hands together in front of the body (at the waistline) or fold arms across the chest.
• Watch your roots grow. Look down at your feet. Avoid direct eye contact, as dogs may interpret it as a challenge or threat.
• Wait like a tree. Stay quiet. Count your breaths. Remain silent and calm until the dog loses interest and walks away.
• Back away slowly. Once the dog has moved away, back up slowly and calmly without turning your back on the dog.

Have you ever seen a dog chase a tree? Of course not. So, when approached by a strange dog, be a tree.

6. Recognize Warning Signs in Dog Body Language

Help children recognize when a dog is uncomfortable. Warning signs include:

• Yawning: When a dog isn't tired, yawning is a stress signal.
• Lip licking or nose licking: Repeated tongue flicks can indicate anxiety.
• Turning the head away: A dog that turns its head or body away from a child is asking for space.
• Whale eye: When you can see the whites of a dog's eyes, it often means the dog is stressed or uncomfortable.
• Stiff or frozen body: A dog that suddenly goes very still is signaling discomfort.
• Backing away or hiding: If a dog moves away from a child, it's saying, "I don't want this interaction."
• Raised hackles: Hair standing up along the dog's back or neck can indicate fear or excitement.
• Low growl: a clear warning.
• Showing teeth or a curled lip: An obvious warning that the dog may bite if the situation continues.
• Ears pinned back: Combined with other stress signals, this indicates the dog is uncomfortable or frightened.

Teach your children that if they see any of these warning signs, they should stop what they're doing, move away slowly, and tell an adult.

Keeping Children Safe as a Dog Owner

If you have a dog in your home, additional precautions can help keep everyone safe.

1. Supervise All Interactions

Even with the gentlest family dog, always supervise interactions with children. Accidents can happen in seconds, and what seems like innocent play to a child may be overwhelming or frightening to a dog.

2. Give Your Dog a Safe Space

Your dog needs a place to retreat when it wants to be alone. Options might include a crate, a dog bed in a quiet room, or a specific area of the house. Teach children that when the dog goes to this space, they must leave the dog alone.

3. Teach Children Not to Hug or Kiss Dogs

This precaution is hard for many parents to accept, especially if their dog seems to tolerate hugs. But research shows that most dogs find hugging stressful and uncomfortable. Hugging restricts a dog's movement and can feel threatening. Even dogs that tolerate hugs from adults may react differently when hugged by children.

Instead of hugs and face kisses, teach children other ways to show affection, like gentle petting or sitting calmly near the dog.

4. Don't Allow Rough Play

Wrestling, tug-of-war, and chasing games can overexcite dogs and lead to nipping or biting. Teach children to play calmly with the family dog and to use toys rather than their hands.

5. Recognize When Your Dog Needs a Break

Watch for signs that your dog is stressed or uncomfortable around your children. If your dog consistently moves away from your child, shows stress signals, or seems anxious when children are present, don't force the interaction. Give your dog breaks and create situations where they can succeed.

6. Get Professional Help If Needed

If your dog has repeatedly shown signs of discomfort around children or has snapped or growled, consult with a veterinarian and a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. These are not behaviors that children should "work through" with the dog. Someone could easily get hurt before the behavior is resolved.

What to Do If a Dog Bite Occurs

Despite your best efforts, dog bites can still happen. Knowing how to respond can make all the difference for protecting your child from lasting harm.

1. Immediate First Aid

For minor bites (scratches or small puncture wounds):

1. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least five minutes.
2. Apply antibiotic ointment.
3. Cover with a clean bandage.
4. Monitor for signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever).

For serious bites (deep punctures, tears, bleeding that won't stop, or injuries to the face, head, or neck):

1. Apply pressure to stop bleeding.
2. Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
3. Don't try to clean deep wounds yourself.
   

2. Get Medical Attention

All dog bites should be evaluated by a healthcare provider, even if they seem minor. Children are particularly vulnerable to infection from dog bites. A doctor can properly treat the wound, determine whether antibiotics are needed, and assess the risk of rabies or other complications.

3. Document Everything

If someone else's dog bites your child, documentation is important. Always get the dog owner's name, address, and contact information. Get contact information for any witnesses, as well. Check whether the dog's vaccinations are up to date, particularly rabies, and take photos of the dog and any injuries it caused.

Report the bite to local animal control as soon as possible. Keep all medical records and receipts, and write down what happened while it's fresh in your mind.

4. Consider Psychological Effects

Don't overlook the emotional impact of a dog bite. Even if physical injuries heal quickly, children may develop a fear of dogs or experience anxiety. Watch for changes in behavior, sleep problems, or reluctance to go places where dogs might be present. If these issues persist, consider consulting with a child psychologist who has experience with animal-related trauma.

Understanding Minnesota Dog Bite Law

Minnesota takes dog bites seriously and provides strong protection for victims. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 347.22, dog owners are held to "strict liability" for their pets. This legal principle means that the owner is automatically liable for injuries caused by their dog, regardless of whether the dog has ever bitten anyone before. The owner doesn't need to have known the dog was dangerous.

The law states that if a dog attacks or injures someone without provocation while that person is lawfully in a place they have a right to be, the owner is liable for the full amount of damages. Included are medical expenses, pain and suffering, psychological counseling, and other costs related to the injury. The dog owner's homeowner's insurance typically covers these damages.

When Legal Help Is Needed

Preventing dog bites requires a combination of education, supervision, and respect for dogs as animals with their own needs and boundaries. No single approach will prevent every bite, but teaching your children how to interact safely with dogs significantly reduces their risk.

Start these conversations early, reinforce them often, and model the behavior you want your children to learn. With the right knowledge and precautions, children and dogs can coexist safely, forming bonds that enrich both their lives.

If your child has been injured by a dog bite, the experienced attorneys at SiebenCarey can help. With 70 years of serving Minnesota families, we understand the unique concerns parents face when their child is hurt. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options and ensure your family receives the compensation you deserve.