MEET THE DOG - Dog Safety for Children

                                           

Is there a right way or wrong way for children to meet a dog, to pet a dog,to play with a dog?

You and your children, ages 3-8, could find out the answers to these questions and many more by attending a very special program tomorrow, November 10th from 11:00-Noon in 1st floor meeting  Room B. Youth Services has invited safety experts and dog therapy teams from Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy of Morton Grove to demonstrate to you how to interact safely with dogs. (Registration is not required, but you must accompany your child to the program.)

Watching and meeting these gentle, obedient therapy dogs could lessen your child's fear of dogs, increase his/her coping skills when approaching new or strange dogs, and might even lead your family to considering having a dog of your very own.

After the program, (or if you cannot attend) I'd like to recommend a shared family read of some of our newest books from the pet nonfiction section (J 636.7). By all means start with the classic dog safety book, May I Pet Your Dog, as well as the cautionary tale for toddlers, Be Gentle With the Dog, Dear! Next, read a few books that satisfy your child's curiosity about doggy behavior, that is, why dogs do what they do, such as It's a Dog's Life. If your family already has a dog, you can also read several great books like 101 Fun Things to Do With Your Dog that have lots of easy games to play with your dog, that can train him to be a smarter, better behaved dog too! Finally, if you are deciding whether to get a new family dog, and need to learn about many breed of dogs, and what it takes to care for a dog, head for the J 636.7's - WOOF! WOOF!