Parents, while we realize that children (under 16 years of age) are important and we like children, strange dogs may not.
Your child could be in a dangerous situation when left with a lot of dogs. Children like to run and scream, which many dogs find enticing for a game of chase. This could cause your child be knocked over or injured by the dogs.
Some dogs like to herd things, including children. This could result in your child being nipped by a dog just trying to do his or her job.
Some dogs may be possessive with their toys and a child who is no taller than the dog may be seen as a peer and a hostile situation could erupt. Adults, just because of their height, are usually accepted as pack leaders but this is not the case with a small child. They may be perceived by the dogs as another dog and a threat.
Other children like to put things in their mouths, which is definitely not recommended at the South Euclid Dog Park. Dogs can carry parasites in their stool, which can potentially infect children if they put things such as rocks, dirt, or dog toys in their mouths. Just handling a dog toy and then putting dirty fingers into the mouth is enough to cause a case of worms in your child.
While we hope that most of our doggie friends are on a flea and tick preventative, there is always a possibility that your child could take home either one by playing closely with strange dogs.
Remember that all dogs have teeth, so all dogs can potentially bite!
Teach Your Child What To Do If Confronted By A Hostile Dog In Public
Teach your child what to do in an emergency:
Do not make direct eye contact with the dog, tuck hands and feet in close to the body, curl up into a ball with the face toward the ground, stay very still until someone helps get the dog away. Do not stand up and run away.
| Friends Of The Ideal Dog Park, Off-Leash (F.I.D.O.), South Euclid, Ohio Dog Park | | 2009 | All Rights Reserved |
