Dog Attack Signals
– – Scientists believe that thousands of young children are being bitten by dogs because they can’t tell when the animals are giving aggressive warnings. Surveys have shown that 43% of school children in England have been bitten, often at home by a familiar dog. Some suffer serious injuries.
Tests by psychologists show that children as old as six believe that a dog baring its teeth is smiling, and may think that such a dog is happy and receptive to being given a hug and kiss! Eye-tracking studies at Lincoln University show that children tend to look only only at a dog’s mouth, ignoring other signs of aggression that adults key into, such as pointed ears.
A computer game called The Blue Dog has been created by psychologists to help teach children when it is best to leave dogs alone…
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FOXSYLVANIA 
December 16, 2010 at 9:09 pm
You think Cesar Milian would’ve included such precautions in _his_ instructional videos!*
*Shakes head in half-serious disappointment.
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December 22, 2010 at 12:04 am
Which reminds me of an old Colin Mochrie joke.
“Tonight’s top story: disgruntled postman bites mad dog! Foam at eleven.”
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December 22, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Maybe Colin should become an anchorman for the FOX News Network.
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December 22, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Learning to communicate with other animals appropriately (much like learning to communicate with other people appropriately) is something parents need to teach their children- particularly in families that keep dogs.
I was raised around a wide variety of animals, and I have never been working and playing with them since I was very young, and I have never been seriously injured- because I was taught how to read animals’ signals.
I’m not saying that injuries will never occur. For example,when my brother was young, he was bit in the face by a very damaged, abused dog. The owners told him he could pet the dog, and when he approached, the dog got scared and attacked him.
However, barring these types of situations, being taught by parents at a young age what dogs (and other animals) are trying to say could immensely reduce these incidents.
No language comes naturally. Communication must be taught.
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December 23, 2010 at 2:52 am
Well said! Thank you for your comments and visit.
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December 23, 2010 at 6:29 am
Thank you! And by the way, you’ve got some good stuff here!
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