Canine safety 101: Kids in Montreal daycamps learning how to be safe around dogs

The City of Montreal is funding a new program that aims to teach childrenhow to stay safe around dogs and avoid getting bitten.

Workshops run by Zoothrapie Qubecare being conductedat day camps around the city throughout the summer. The organization received a $8,000 grant to host the initiative.

"A dog is attached in front of a store that looks cute, the children would want to pet it," said Rgine Htu, the clinical co-ordinatoratZoothrapie Qubec.

"Sometimes children will approach dogs from behindor peta dog [they've just met] for the first time on the top of the head."

Either of those approaches could be risky, she said.

The workshop's designersworked with veterinarians and behaviour specialists, looking for waysto teach children how to approach dogs.

The workshopsare being conducted in conjunction with the city's proposed newanimal control bylaw, tabled last month and expected to be passed by city council on Aug. 20.

Dog safety 101

In the workshops, children are first taughthow to recognize the three basic emotions of a dog: aggressive, scaredand happy.

The childrenthenlearn how to approach a dog safely: they must have permission from the owner andthe dog, and they must present their hand in a safe way.

"They hide the thumb, show the top of the fist, and after they have to pet under the neck," Htu told CBC Montreal'sDaybreak.

Third, theylearn how to react when a dog looks aggressive what posture to take and how to place their bodies,hiding their face on the ground if they are near the ground, Htu said.

The children then do role-playing, to practise these behaviours.

Some childrenmeet a dog for the very first time in theworkshop.

"This workshop helps them to get more comfortable," Htu said.

Dog owner accountability, too

When the workshop leadersask children if they've been bitten before, on average, about a quarter of children raise their hands, Htu said.

Half say theywere bitten by a family dog or a dog they already know.

"We teach them that all dogs have teeth;all dogs have a personal space. Even if it's your dog, you have to be respectful," she said.

Dog owners have a responsibility to keep children safe by keeping their pets on a leash at all times in public spaces, and especially, not being afraid to say no when someone asks to pet their agitated dog, Htu said.

She recommends using the yellow-ribbon technique to warn people that your dog might bite.

"You put the yellow ribbon on the leash of the dog or harness, and that's supposed to show people that the dog is not really comfortable in social interaction," she said.

"I think if we act on prevention, we will reduce the risk of biting."