Keeping Children Safe Around Pets: A Guide for Families

Children and Pets: A Wonderful but Risk-Aware Relationship

Pets bring enormous joy and developmental benefits to children. Research suggests that children who grow up with pets develop greater empathy, responsibility, and social skills. Dogs, cats, and other family animals can become beloved companions and a source of genuine comfort for children.

At the same time, the combination of children and animals requires careful management. Dog bites are among the most common injuries to children globally: studies from multiple countries consistently find that children aged 5 to 9 are the group most frequently bitten, and that most bites come from a dog the child knows, often their own family pet. Understanding how to prevent these incidents and teach children to interact safely with animals is an important part of family safety.

Understanding Why Dogs Bite

Dogs bite almost always as a response to feeling threatened, in pain, startled, or cornered. They rarely bite without giving warning signals that most children, and many adults, do not know how to read. Recognising these signals and ensuring children understand them dramatically reduces bite risk.

Warning signs that a dog may be uncomfortable and could bite include: yawning or licking lips in a stressed context, turning away, showing the whites of the eyes (whale eye), low posture or tucked tail, stiff body language, growling, or snapping. A dog that growls is communicating discomfort. A growl should never be punished, as it is a warning signal: removing it by training a dog not to growl does not remove the underlying discomfort and can lead to a bite that appears without warning.

Rules for Interacting With Your Family Dog

Teach children these non-negotiable rules for interacting with your family dog:

• Never disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies
• Never take food or a toy away from a dog
• Always ask a parent before approaching or touching the dog
• Pet gently, from the side rather than reaching over the head from above
• Do not hug or hold a dog tightly around the neck or face, even if you love them very much
• Do not pull ears, tails, or paws
• If the dog moves away or shows warning signs, leave it alone
• Never run from a dog in the house: this can trigger chase instincts

Children under 5 should never be left unsupervised with any dog, regardless of how gentle or well-trained the animal is. Children of this age cannot reliably read dog body language or control their own behaviour around animals.

Approaching Unfamiliar Dogs

Teach children never to approach an unfamiliar dog without asking the owner first. If the owner says it is okay, the child should offer a closed fist for the dog to sniff before attempting to stroke it. Pet the dog on the chest or side of the body, not the top of the head. If the dog backs away, respect that and do not pursue it.

Children should also understand that a stray dog or one behind a fence should never be approached, even if it appears friendly.

What to Do If a Dog Looks Threatening

Teach children: if a dog approaches in a threatening way, stand still like a tree with hands at sides and avoid eye contact. Do not scream or run. Wait until the dog loses interest. If knocked over, curl into a ball protecting the face and neck, stay still, and call for help. Running triggers chase instinct and can escalate a threat into an attack.

Safety Around Other Pets

Dogs are not the only animals that require careful management around children:

• Cats: Teach children to read feline body language. A cat with flattened ears, a lashing tail, or a puffed body is telling you to back away. Cat scratches can become infected and should be cleaned promptly.
• Rabbits and small animals: Small animals such as hamsters, rabbits, and guinea pigs can bite if handled incorrectly or if frightened. Teach children to support the animal fully from beneath rather than gripping around the body, and to always sit down when holding a small animal to reduce the height of a potential fall.
• Reptiles: Reptiles can carry Salmonella bacteria. Always wash hands thoroughly after handling reptiles or cleaning their enclosures.
• Birds: Parrots and larger birds can bite painfully. Teach children to handle birds calmly and gently, and to keep fingers away from beaks until a relationship of trust is established.

If a Child Is Bitten or Scratched

For minor bites and scratches, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least five minutes, apply antiseptic, and cover with a clean dressing. Monitor for signs of infection over the following days: increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge.

Seek medical attention promptly for any bite that breaks the skin significantly, particularly dog bites, bites on the face, hands, or feet, bites in children who are immunocompromised, and any bite from an unknown animal. The treating clinician can assess the need for antibiotics, tetanus boosters, or in rare cases, rabies prophylaxis depending on your country and circumstances.

Report dog bites from dogs other than your own to local authorities where required. In many countries this is a legal requirement and helps prevent further incidents.

Introducing a New Pet to Your Family

Introducing a new pet, particularly a dog, to a family with young children requires thought and patience. Choose a breed and individual animal known for good temperament with children. Allow the pet and children to meet in a calm, controlled environment with close adult supervision. Give the pet a space of their own where children know not to intrude. Invest in training for dogs from the start: a well-trained dog that reliably responds to commands is dramatically safer around children than an untrained one.