TOPIC:
Do's
• ALWAYS ask the owner's permission BEFORE petting a dog.
• When meeting a new dog, let it come to you and smell you
first - dogs smell first and can bite later!
• Remember: Not every dog that wags it's tail is friendly...
sometimes it is a 'conditioned' response and NOT a sign of being
friendly!
• Always approach dogs slowly and carefully.
• Know where the dogs in your neighborhood live - especially
if they are on your walking route. Be prepared, not scared
or startled.
• Stay away from stray dogs.
• If a dog approaches you, remain calm and serene. Dogs
can 'smell' fear - practice this ahead of time if you find this
within yourself. Visualize a place in your mind that you
will automatically revert to in times of fear. Don't
scream if a dog approaches you - their ears register greater
levels of sounds higher and lower than ours do - would you be
serene if someone was standing in front of you, screaming like
the world was about to end? Think about it. Stand still.
• Always protect your face, neck and arms, but be careful to
not raise your arms quickly in a sign of aggression towards the
dog.
• If you're attacked, give the dog a book or backpack to chew
on.
• If a dog knocks you on the ground, curl up in a ball.
Dont's
• Don't make loud noises around dogs.
• Don't look directly into the eyes of a new dog, nor walk
directly towards it - this is a sign in dog behaviors of
aggression or challenging their authority and/or domain..
• Don't bother a dog while it is sleeping or eating.
• NEVER tease a dog.
• Never reach through a fence to pet a dog.
• Never put your hand between two dogs.
• Never put your face close to a dog or extend your fingers -
if you MUST extend your hand, keep it down and closed, exposing
the knuckle part first to avoid a bite.
• Never try to help a hurt dog unless you KNOW what you're
doing - call someone if you don't!
• Never enter a yard that has a dog in it without permission.
• NEVER leave a baby alone with a dog.
• Don't ever bother a mother dog when she is caring for her
puppies.
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