Even dogs considered to be "family-friendly", such as
Golden Retrievers, are capable of biting a child. A parent would rarely leave a child alone with an unknown pitbull, but people forget that even a cute dog is still a dog. Just because a dog typically has a good temperament does not mean that it is safe to leave a child alone with it. Since children are most easily harmed by dogs, there are a few steps that can be taken to ensure no harm comes to a child, or to the dog by extension:
- Teach your child never to approach a dog that they don't know.
- Always ask the owner if you can pet their dog. Owners know the temperament of their dogs.
- Approach dogs from the front. They could be startled if approached from behind and at the least may knock you over.
- Refrain from making sudden jerky movements. This could make the dog think you are playing or being aggressive.
- Never let a child play unsupervised with an adult dog or puppy, yours or a neighbor's. An accident only takes few seconds.
- Intervene and stop play if it looks too rambunctious or boisterous. Children aren't as durable as puppies. Puppies regularly bite as a part of regular play with other puppies.
- Always watch children to see what they are doing with the dog, and if what they are doing is dangerous or not.