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Dogs and humans have
been living side by side for about 100,000 years. Many dogs are friendly, but some are not.
Some dogs are smaller than cats and some are bigger than
ponies. Some big dogs are so full of fun that they get into
trouble, because they push children over when they are being
friendly. Small dogs, especially those bred to round up sheep
and cattle, can be a bit snappy. You can’t tell from the size
of a dog, or from its breed, whether he is going to be
friendly or aggressive.
All dogs have to be treated with respect.
If you forget this you may get hurt. Dog bites hurt,
because their teeth are very sharp. They can leave painful
infections and scars that may last for the rest of your life.
If you learn how dogs talk to each other, and how to talk to
them, this will help you understand whether you’re dealing
with a friendly dog, or one to keep away from.
How Dogs COMMUNICATE
Dogs love to sniff at everything around
them. On a walk they often sniff at lamp-posts. Sniffing
their way through the park is like reading a newspaper: who
came that way just before? Who else is in the park? Are there
any strange dogs around? Dogs also smell under each other's
tails to check whether they have met before.
When two dogs that have not met before say “hello”, they have
to decide who is the boss. By sniffing each other they learn
about one another. Puppies do not get involved in fights. They
just want to play!
Never
try to stop two dogs fighting. You
may want to save your dog from being hurt but when two dogs
start to fight they tend to bite at just about anything that
is near them—including helpful humans. So never get
involved in a dog fight. Instead, always call an adult
to help.
HOW TO SAY “HELLO” TO A DOG
To say hello to a dog you must let him
approach you at his own speed. Don't rush up to him, because
he cannot be sure that you are friendly. Be quiet and let him
sniff and lick your hand.
Always ask the dog's owners if it is OK for you to stroke
their dog.
What to do if you are frightened by a dog
-- Stand still like
a statue.
-- Clench your hands
into fists and tuck them under your chin.
-- If the dog knocks
you over, curl into a ball, put your hands over your head and
stay quiet and still. The dog will probably get bored and go
away.
Never run away from a dog. You cannot
outrun a dog. Most dogs can run as fast as the school bus can
go. If you stop moving the dog will get bored and go away.
If you are concerned that he is going to
use his teeth to steal your snack, the best thing to do is to
throw your food as far away as possible. Then calmly walk to
the nearest adult.
Flapping your arms around and squealing
will make the dog want to do the same thing. Of course, dogs
cannot flap their arms and squeal, so they bark and jump up at
you instead. Sometimes they will want to hold on to you and
the only way they can do this is with their mouth. Then the
dog gets into trouble for biting, even though he was just
excited.
How to hold a dog
Some dogs are too big to pick up. Some dogs
do not like to be picked up and will growl if you try. Never
try to pick up a growling dog.
If the dog is happy to be picked up,
support him with one hand behind his front legs and one hand
behind his back legs.
Puppies can be quite wriggly. It is
important to use two hands when you hold a pup so it won’t
slip to the ground. With the puppy looking towards you, hold
it firmly around its chest and tummy. Keep the puppy
still and give it a toy to play with instead.
If you are taking the dog for a walk, make
sure the collar is not going to slip off and always keep him
on a lead.
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