Woodgreen urges parents to educate children about dog safety
With the UK’s pet population now significantly higher since the pandemic began, we are interacting with dogs more than ever – in our homes, in the park or when visiting friends and family. Children are often drawn to engage with dogs, who may appear friendly, but accidents can quickly happen with devastating results.
Woodgreen Pets Charity is providing free workshops and classes on staying safe around dogs, in order to prevent these incidents from happening.
Woodgreen has almost 100 years’ experience in animal behaviour and welfare. The charity rehabilitates and rehomes thousands of pets every year, as well as providing support to people who are struggling with their pet. A common reason for enquiries is aggression around children, or following an incident between a dog and a child. Sarah, a first-time dog owner from Cambridgeshire, contacted Woodgreen when her 9-year-old son was bitten after kissing their Chihuahua, Jack, on the head.
Devastated, she said: “I fell in love with Jack as soon as I met him and he’s a beautiful, loyal dog. But after the incident between Jack and my son, I felt like a terrible parent for bringing him our home and couldn’t risk it happening again. I called Woodgreen to say I was struggling, thinking I would need to give him up, but instead they offered free advice from their team of qualified behaviourists.
“I quickly realised that what happened was probably my son’s fault, and Woodgreen gave me strategies and practical advice to understand Jack’s needs and keep everyone safe. People often treat small dogs like teddies, but they have boundaries that need to be respected. Jack now has his own cosy pen, which is his safe space, and we’re much better at reading his body language to understand when he’s not comfortable with something. This has been an invaluable learning experience for my son, as it’s helped him to learn how to set and communicate his own boundaries too.
“Woodgreen have made it possible for me to feel confident in keeping Jack, understand what my responsibilities are to him, and to safeguard my son. Without their help, we wouldn’t have been able to keep Jack as part of the family. It’s been an amazing experience and I encourage any pet owners in a rough situation to ask for help.”
Beyond offering free one-to-one advice to pet owners like Sarah, Woodgreen has a range of free online workshops and classes – including a Family Dog Workshop. Essential for all households with dogs and young children, the interactive session explores dogs’ basic needs, how to stay safe around dogs and how to make feeding time fun. A live digital workshop is hosted once a month, or the workshop can be accessed in a self-led format to be completed at each family’s own time and pace.
Linda Cantle, Director of Pet & Owner Support Services at Woodgreen, said: “Knowing how to safely interact with a dog is an essential life skill for everyone. Even if you don’t have a dog yourself, it’s likely that you and your children will encounter them whilst out and about, or when visiting family and friends. The earlier in life these skills can be taught, the better, as we find that many incidents could have been prevented with the right education.”
To find out more about Woodgreen’s online workshops and classes, please visit our events page. If you’re struggling with a behavioural issue and need help, contact the charity’s friendly team at woodgreen.org.uk or 0300 303 9333.