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The Puggy Page
Pictures
Meet the Pug
Buying Puppies
Setting Up House
Training and Care
General Care
Nutrition
Pug Problems 1
Pug Problems 2
Pug Clubs
Breeding 1
Breeding 2
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not all dogs are instant pals It's not a pleasant statistic. Each year, many children are the victims of dog bites. The saddest part is that so many of them could have been prevented. So many of them need never have happened. The prime responsibility lies with the dog owner, of course. No dog should be allowed to roam loose or unsupervised. But many of those dog bites may be intentionally provoked by the children themselves. Have you ever been awakened by someone shaking you and responded by triking out at them in your semi-somnabulistic state? The action might even have coincided with a dream in which you were being attacked. A dog who is suddenly awakened by an innocent hug from a toddler may well react spontaneously, and a dog's only weapons are his teeth. Even a beloved family pet may be temporarily disoriented and react defensively. Warn your children that the old adage "Let sleeping dogs Lie" still has validity. Sudden rushes at strange dogs may also provoke bites. There's no reason for a child to fear dogs but a bit of healthy respect and caution is well advised. Youngsters who have been conditioned by exposure to television dogs such as Lassie or Benji might well grow up thinking all dogs welcome friendly advances. Too often, children are propted to suddenly hur or pat a strange dog. Or they may startle the dog by hoving their faces close to the dog's. Teach them to first ask the owner for permission to pet the dog and then not to move too quickly when approaching the animal. If the animal raws back, bares his teeth or shows signs of fear, the child should not attmept to press his attentions further. Children don't like to be teased. Neither do dogs. Yet youngsters are often guilty of the very behaviour they themselves dislike. They may be tempted to hold food in front of the dog and then snatch it away when he reaches for it -- an action that may cause him to snap in order to grab the edible before it disappears again. Or they may rile up a neighbourhood dog by running sticks along "his" fence or poking at him, little realizing that an unlatched gate or torn fence may one day give the dog a chance to go after his antagonists. Kindness is the key word here. And it's worthwhile to remind he children that the old golden rule "do unto other as you would have them do unto you" applies to animals as well as people. |