Bite Prevention & the SAFE Program 

The high energy levels of children can be misunderstood by a dog that isn’t familiar with them. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), there are more than 4.5 million people in the United States who get bit by a dog each year. Unfortunately, almost 1 in 5 people require medical attention and the most common bite victim is children. However, incidents like this can be prevented. This article will go into detail about the SAFE Program.

SAFE helps children (adults too) learn about dog bite prevention. It is good to teach these steps to your child in a fun way so that they will not be frightened if a dog is attempting to bite. SAFE stands for:

Stay – Keep noise at a minimum and do not run away from the dog.

Arms – It is not a good idea to flail your arms as it may excite the dog. Keep them crossed and close to your body.

Face – Turn your face away to avoid injury.

Eyes – Never make direct eye contact with the dog. Some dogs may take this as a challenge or invitation to pounce.

SAFE focuses on keeping your child calm during their interactions with dogs. We recommend that you teach your child how to gently pet dogs while treating them with respect and kindness. If you continue to teach your dog the SAFE Program, they will be better equipped to handle these situations down the road.