Safety · October 1, 2026 · 7 min read
Children and dogs: supervision means being able to intervene
A familiar dog can still be tired, painful, or protective of rest. When the dog leaves, respect it. When an adult cannot watch, use a barrier.
AVMA notes that many bites involve familiar dogs. Trust does not remove fatigue, pain, fear, or surprise. Supervision means an adult watches the interaction and stays close enough to stop it, not merely sharing the room while doing something else.
| Space | Keep an attentive adult close enough to intervene. |
|---|---|
| Supervise | Do not allow hugging, climbing, chasing, or faces close together. |
| Respect | Keep food, toys, and the dog's bed away from young children. |
| Avoid | Use a door or barrier when active supervision is impossible. |
Supervision means staying present
An adult cooking in another room is not supervising. Keep the child and dog within reach or use a gate and separate them. Do not allow hugging, climbing on the dog, taking food, or disturbing sleep and pain. The dog needs an exit that the child cannot block.
Teach children that turning away, lip licking, freezing, hiding, and growling are requests for space. Do not punish a growl. Suppressing it can remove the warning without changing the fear. After a bite, separate calmly, care for the wound, and seek medical and veterinary assessment.
Sources consulted
Adapted from AVMA recommendations about dog bite prevention and canine body language.
