Extra Special Pets & Animals
Aug 6, 2009 9:27 am US/Central
Teaching Children How To Prevent Dog Bites
(WCCO)
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Dr. Teresa Hershey shows Sanjana Ketchum, 12, the proper way to pet a dog.
CBS
Dr. Teresa Hershey teaches children how to be safe around dogs in a dog-bite prevention class. She shared some of her tips with WCCO, after two bad dog attacks in Minnesota in two weeks.
Hershey said the first thing you want to do if a dog runs up to you is to stand like a tree.
If the dog knocks you down, you should lie like a log. Hershey said you should put your hands over your neck and stay very still until the dog leaves.
If you want to pet a dog, it's best to first ask permission from the owner. If it's OK, approach the dog from the side and squat down, especially if it's a small dog.
"Then you want to offer out your hand with the fingers curled up and let the dog sniff you," Hershey said. "If the dog doesn't move away, then you know that he's relaxed and doesn't mind you petting him. Then you want to pet just over the shoulder."
Hershey said you don't want to pet the dog's head, feet or tail, because some dogs don't like that.
"You never want to pet a dog that's tied up," Hershey said. "You never want to pet a dog through a car window. You never want to pet a dog through a fence. You never want to pet a dog that's hurt."
Hershey also said you shouldn't try to hug or kiss a dog, because they often don't like that.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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