Four-legged friends a danger to the unwary

By REBECCA WALSH

The latest dog attacks on young children reinforce the need for parents to teach their children how to behave around animals they don't know, animal behaviour experts say.

At least four children have been attacked by dogs this year. One, Carolina Anderson, 7, is recovering in the Kidz First Hospital in South Auckland after she was viciously attacked at Coxs Bay Reserve in Westmere at the weekend. She was playing with two friends when she was set upon by the dog.

Carolina underwent 12 hours of surgery to repair the damage to her face and scalp following the unprovoked attack.

Animal psychologist Mark Vette and SPCA director Bob Kerridge say that although fighting breeds such as pitbulls will initiate an attack, most dogs become aggressive only if they feel threatened.

"It's important to realise dogs have a positive role in our society," says Mr Vette.

"They shouldn't be tagged with all being potentially aggressive. It's quite the contrary.

"If we were to target and blame someone we would have to go back to the owner and breeder. That's where the damage is done."

There are a number of ways children can learn to behave around animals to reduce the chances of a dog feeling threatened and biting them.

Mr Kerridge says small children tend to be the victims of attacks because they race up to dogs without fear. Children often move quickly and pat the dog around the head, which it can find threatening.

Children also tend to behave more unpredictably than adults and will shout, scream, hug or roll around on the animal.

"The bottom line is that the bulk of attacks would be caused by the child's approach," Mr Kerridge says. "Without defending these dogs, often the dog is just simply responding to what it sees as an aggressive movement."

Mr Vette says the dog's developmental experience, particularly in the first four months of life, is also important.

Dogs that grow up having no contact with children, or bad experiences with them, are more likely to respond aggressively than a well-socialised dog if they feel threatened.

Mr Vette says parents can't expect young children to be able to read a dog's body language - a dog that is feeling threatened will growl, bare its teeth, stare, take on a strutting posture and have an upright tail.

Safety tips for children:

* Children should never approach a dog they don't know. Sticking a hand through the window to a dog in a parked car or behind a fence is dangerous, as dogs can see this as an invasion of their territory.

* If a dog is on a lead, the child or parent should ask the owner if it is okay to pat the animal.

* Don't pat the head area, but hold out the back of your hand a little bit away from the dog to see how it responds.

* If a dog starts growling, turn side-on and move quietly and slowly away from it - don't run.

* "Don't eyeball a dog; that's a threat to them," Mr Kerridge says. "If you can ignore them, nine times out of 10 the dog won't do anything."

* If you have some food that you can throw on to the ground to distract the dog, do that and move quietly away.

* If a child is attacked, Mr Vette says it is best not to fight back. "The more resistance the more [the dog] will fight". He suggests the child curl into the foetal position, protecting his/her head, throat, neck and stomach. In general, dogs will stop attacking if there is a show of submission, but that trait has been eliminated from breeds such as pitbulls.

Although a parent's natural instinct is to rush to help, it is better to move in quietly and confidently.

Australian vet and behaviour expert Dr Paul McGreevy says in his book Handle with Care, which is targeted at the young, that children should never stroke a dog while it is tied up, sleeping or feeding.

Dogs should not be teased or their whiskers or ears pulled. Many don't like people blowing on their face and will snap at the source of the breeze.

Dr McGreevy says many injuries can be avoided but sometimes parents think the best way is to avoid contact with animals altogether.

"But animals and children can gain so much from playing together, if the kids and parents, are equipped with the right information," he says.

"Having a pet, or even playing with someone else's, teaches children all sorts of things - like empathy, tolerance, responsibility and gentleness."