As a parent, you can educate yourself and your child with a few tips that will go a long way to keep your child  safer in the presence of ‘man’s best friend.’  Here are some tips to keep in mind:

•  Understand that dogs react to your attitude.  If you run or scream, they often think that you are playing and want to join in.   This can be dangerous for small children – dogs are often as big as or larger than the child, which can turn the playful actions of the dog into an injury to the child. 

•  Make sure that there is always an adult present when children are interacting with their canine friends.  Never leave an infant or a young child alone with a dog.

• One hint to a dog’s discomfort around children (and adults) can be found by focusing on the dog’s humans.  Humans transmit their attitudes, fears, aggressions, etc. to their dogs. 

•  If you or your children are  interacting with unknown dogs, be especially cautious.  It is best never to approach an unfamiliar dog, especially if it is not in the presence of it’s owner.  

•  Never disturb a dog that is sleeping or eating, no matter how cute it is. 

• If an unknown dog does approach you, always let it sniff you beore attempting to pet it or play with it. 

•  Never look a dog directly in the eye.  Dogs often perceive this as a challenge of their authority. 

•  If you feel like the dog is going to be malicious to you or your child in any way, stand tall and still and try to put something like a bag or bicycle between you and the dog. 

•  If a dog does knock you over, roll into a ball, cover your face and don’t move.  The dog may lose interest and move away, but if not, your face is safe.

These safety tips may help you and your children have many positive experiences with the dogs in your lives.

Is your child comfortable around dogs?  Some children are; others seemed to be scared silly by them.  Some dogs are comfortable around children and others are not.  Why is that?  Of course, there are many reasons.

One reason for a child’s discomfort and fear is that a child may have had a bad experience with a dog, She is more likely to be afraid of the next dog she meets.  Sometimes the dog’s exuberance at meeting a child may be scary.  And, sometimes, her parents’ own tension and fear may transmit to the child – and to the dog. 

Regardless of why a dog becomes aggressive toward and bites your child, it is not the child’s fault.  Children under the age of 7 cannot be held responsible in Virginia for negligence — it’s not your child’s fault. 

The law in Virginia is that the dog gets “one free bite.”  That is, IF THE OWNER HAS NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE that the dog has a tendency to bite, the owner is not generally liable for the injuries the dog causes when it bites someone. 

If your child has been bitten by a dog, there are important facts to discover to determine if your child has a valid claim against the owner of the dog.   The lawyers in my firm are experienced in representing parents of children who have been injured by a dog.  Send an email to srohrstaff@wrsattorneys.com, give us a call at 703-273-9500, or contact us through our website www.WRSattorneys.com.  We will be glad to answer your questions – for free.