Children must be taught to respect their canine friends

By Maria Endah Hulupi

JAKARTA (JP): Both children and pet dogs are adorable and entertaining, but parents should be careful because playful children can irritate even the most tender-hearted dog at times, a veterinarian warned.

Yeye Sri Danti, from the Jakarta Veterinary Hospital, underlined the importance of monitoring by parents or other adult family members when small children, aged two years or three years, are playing with or around dogs.

"This is important because children at this age love to play and they consider that the animal is one of their toys and treat it like one," said Yeye.

She also said that families with little children may need to consider selecting indoor breeds, who usually are friendly and possess gentle temperaments. Smaller dogs that fall into this category include the Yorkshire terrier and poodle, while the larger ones are the golden retriever and collie.

Parents are also advised to explain to their children that their loving dogs can become irritated and provoked by uncaring treatment that often occurs during playing.

Yeye warned that dogs are sensitive when they are injured or sick, and can easily be provoked in defending their food and puppies.

"If children accidentally touch the painful spot, the injured animal will not hesitate to bite them in its attempt to protect itself," she explained.

During this period, she said, prevention is very important. Parents may have to remind their children to stay away from the sensitive animal.

An irritated dog, Yeye said, will communicate its anger in its eyes, which is its way of informing people that it does not want to be bothered. But angry dogs will also display their upper teeth and will not hesitate to attack.

But in general, she added, dogs have instincts, which they use to differentiate whether a stranger is a friendly or suspicious person. "When around small children, dogs will also rely on their instincts to distinguish the children's playful behavior as either harmless or menacing," Yeye explained.

She also said that it is recommended for families to have their pet dog from puppyhood so that they can shape it and train it to be friendly with people in its surroundings.

"This way, the family will know the temperament of their pet dog and the dog can be taught to behave properly," she said.

When visiting friends who have pet dogs, parents are also advised to warn their children of the dangers of playing with other people's dogs, despite their adorable and harmful looks.

"It is better to seek information from the host about the temperament of their dog first before the children can play with or around it," Yeye added.

But in a situation in which an irritated pet dog becomes angry and ready to bite, parents should come to help in a way that will not further aggravate the animal's anger and prompt it to attack.

"It is better to douse the animal with water to calm it down, instead of grabbing the child, which may also aggravate the injury," she added.

But if a child has been bitten by a pet dog, parents must immediately cleanse the wounds with soap in running water for 10 minutes. Antiseptic solution should then be applied to the wound to kill any bacteria and the wound covered to stop the bleeding. Then immediately go to a doctor for a proper examination and treatment.

"If the animal has been properly cared for and vaccinated, the owner need not worry," she assured.

Parents are also advised not to let their children play with a stray dog or take one home without prior consultation with a veterinarian to make sure that it is in a healthy condition.

"This is important because there are animal diseases that can be transmitted to people, like leptospiral disease and skin diseases caused by candidae infection or parasitic mites, such as scabies," she said.

To prevent a pet dog from contracting these infectious diseases, Yeye explained that parents had to maintain a clean and dry dog kennel.

"Periodic checkups with a veterinarian at least twice a year are needed to make sure that the pet is in good health," she said.