Children often have no fear of dogs. Instead, children must be taught to take precautions to avoid a dog bite. Children are often the victims of the most serious dog bites here in Weston and Ft. Lauderdale, Broward County Florida. A child tends to be at the dog’s level making a bite to the face, neck and upper body more common.

Ways to Prevent Dog Bites in Weston or Ft. Lauderdale in Broward County, Florida

Explain to your children that they should think about ways to prevent a dog bite, including:

• Staying away from dogs that they do not know;
• Staying back from any dog that is being restrained because a dog that is trapped may feel especially threatened when approached by a child;
• Never approaching a dog that appears to be sick or injured. Instead, explain to the child that they should find an adult and tell them about the injured dog.
• Explain to the child why he or she should never try and pet a dog unless their parent or the dog’s owner gives the child permission. Even after the child is given permission the child should pet the dog on the back and not on the top of the head. The child should approach the dog slowly and with confidence.

Taking Precautions to Prevent Dog Bites in Ft. Lauderdale or Weston in Broward County, FL

Teach your children to take precautions by learning to recognize the signs of dangers. Dogs have the potential to bite or attack for the following types of reasons:

• The dog gets overly excited while playing;
• The dog is being teased or aggravated;
• The dog is startled;
• The dog is eating and becomes frightened that the child will steal the food; or
• The dog is trying to protect something it cares about especially new puppies.

Mothers should teacher their children to understand how dogs are likely to react to a variety of circumstances.

• Dogs give warning signals that it is feeling angry or threatened. A dog will growl, stiffen its body, raise its fur, or pull back from someone trying to pet it.
• Dogs are curious about people that are new and unfamiliar. Teach your child that if a strange dog approaches the child to stay calm. The child should stand still, not attempt to pet the dog, but let the dog sniff the child.
• If the dog becomes aggressive, the child should not attempt to run away from the child. If the child starts to run the dog may chase the child and try to knock the child to the ground. Instead the child should stand still and remain calm. Running or screaming will only make the dog more excited and aggressive.
• Teach the child not to stare directly into the dogs eyes because the dog may see this as a form of aggression.
• The child should keep an object between the child’s body and the dog when possible. For instance, a bicycle or backpack should be kept in front of the child’s body. The object makes it more difficult for the dog to attack.
• If the dog knocks the child to the ground and begins to attack the child, the child should be taught to roll into a ball. Show the child how to protect the face and neck by tucking the face towards the chest. Teach the child to put his hands at the back of his neck while putting his elbows in front of his face.
• Explain to the child that any dog bite attack should be reported to a parent or teacher and the local animal control agency in Broward County or the surrounding areas.

You never want to make the child paranoid about being attacked by a dog, but if you help educate the child about the risks involved the child will often put the information into the proper context. As the child gets to be older, more information can be shared.

Lisa Levine is a personal injury attorney at the law firm of Levine & Glassman, P.A. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney if you have been bitten by a vicious dog. Find out how Florida’s strict liability theory protects men, women and children who are the victim of a vicious dog bite or attack in Weston or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Click here for more information on retaining an attorney for a dog bites in Broward County for Weston and Ft Lauderdale, FL.