1.
Dogs must obey commands from kids of 12 years old and above.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Whether a dog defers to your kid isn't so much to do with your kid's age, but with the type of relationship they have, and the dog and child's respective personalities.
2.
Some breeds of dogs, like Goldren Retrievers, are kid-friendly.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Golden Retrievers bite kids just as often, if not more, than the usual suspects.
Labeling a breed as child-friendly encourages pushing the dog's patence. Every dog has his / her own limits.
Don't rely on a dog to be child-safe by virtue of his / her breed.
3.
My kid can do anything to my dog. My dog would never bite them.
Correct Answer
B. Every dog has his/her breaking point and I won't test my dog's.
I prefer that he / she enjoys my kids' company, rather than tolerate it.
Explanation
For every dog that bit a kid, whose report landed on our desk, there was a first incident.
Before that, the family had been swearing he / she would never anything.
4.
A dog who bites a child is vicious. It is not normal.
Correct Answer
B. False: every dog can bite a child, if pushed hard enough
Explanation
5.
My dog should bow to my child's will
Correct Answer
B. No. Sound child-dog interactions are based on collaboration, not authority. Until a certain age, the children are not the authority figure, the parents are.
Explanation
6.
The dog has stolen your child's toy. He is refusing to let go. What should the child do?
Correct Answer
A. Call you
Explanation
Avoid power struggles between your child and your dog. They can lead to unsafe situations.
7.
Your child is being seriously attacked by dogs (this is EXTREMELY rare). What should he/she do?
Correct Answer
A. Curl up into a ball, burying his / her face between his arms, using his folded arms to protect his ears
Explanation
Curling up into a ball and burying the face between the arms is the correct answer because it helps to protect the most vulnerable parts of the body, such as the face and neck, from the dogs' attacks. By folding the arms, it also provides some protection to the ears, which are sensitive and can be easily injured. This defensive posture may also make the child appear less threatening to the dogs, potentially reducing the intensity of the attack. Gesticulating and shouting may further agitate the dogs and escalate the situation, making it more dangerous for the child.
8.
Your dog is jumping up on your child (in a friendly way). What should the child do?
Correct Answer
A. Fold up his/her arms against his chest and look up and away until the dog calms down. The child looking up avoids the dog jumping up against his/her chin.
Explanation
The correct answer suggests that the child should fold up their arms against their chest and look up and away until the dog calms down. This action helps to prevent the dog from jumping up against the child's chin. By looking up and away, the child avoids making eye contact with the dog, which can be seen as a challenge or invitation to play. Folding up their arms also creates a physical barrier and signals to the dog that jumping up is not acceptable behavior. This response allows the child to assert boundaries and encourages the dog to calm down.
9.
By providing supervision (never letting a child-dog together unattended), you can prevent 99% of incidents.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Over 90% of bite incidents happen when the supervising adult is less than a meter away from the dog-child. Supervision is not enough. Knowing when to intervene and preventing problem situations is more important.
10.
A good time to intervene in a dog-child interaction is:
Correct Answer
B. When the dog or child is showing even subtle signs of discomfort
Explanation
A good time to intervene in a dog-child interaction is when either the dog or child is displaying even subtle signs of discomfort. This is important because it indicates that one or both parties may be feeling uneasy or stressed in the situation. By intervening at this point, it allows for the potential prevention of any negative or aggressive behavior from either the dog or child, ensuring the safety and well-being of both. It is crucial to address these signs of discomfort to create a positive and harmonious interaction between the dog and child.
11.
My dog is reliable and wouldn't bite my kid. Ever.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Your dog could have a bad day, he could have an ache or pain.
Also, irritation can pile up silently for years until the dog reaches breaking point.
12.
Playing tag and other wild, chase games: what do you think?
Correct Answer
B. This could get the dog so excited that he/she start plays too rough and hurt your kid. The dog could also make a habit of chasing running kids
Sensible dog-child interactions are calm.
13.
This is my dog. He is in my arms. Is it OK for my kid to approach him?
Correct Answer
B. The dog is effectively cornered, so it's best to give him a choice to come to your kid when he has more freedom of movement.
A cornered dog can't choose to leave if he is uncomfortable. That only increases the chance of aggression.
Explanation
In this scenario, the dog is in the person's arms, which effectively corners the dog and restricts its movement. It is best to give the dog a choice to approach the kid when it has more freedom of movement. When a dog is cornered and unable to leave if it feels uncomfortable, there is an increased chance of aggression. Therefore, it is important to allow the dog to have the freedom to move and approach the child on its own terms.
14.
Your dog growled at your child. What do you do?
Correct Answer
A. Calmly separate them, check if your kid was bitten, work out what happened and take preventive measures for next time. Talk to a qualified canine behaviourist for that.
Explanation
Shouting at a growling dog is a risk: what happens if the dog then no longer growls in the future? That's right: you now have a dog who bites without warning.
15.
Dangling a toy in front of the dog to encourage chase.
Correct Answer
B. Bad idea:
Taunting the dog only encourages him/her to snatch things out of your child's hand,
Sensible games between dog and child are calm. An over-excited dog could also accidentally hurt or scare your child.
16.
You see your child ride your dog like a horse. What do you do?
Correct Answer
B. You intervene and break off this interaction.
Rare are the dogs who would enjoy this type of interaction, it could actually cause a back injury to the dog, and the dog is effectively forced to stay.
17.
To teach a dog to get used to kids taking away their bone: have the kid do it often.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
You could actually teach your dog to hate kids approaching him when he's chewing a bone by using that method.
A good dog training school will show you how to get the dog more comfortable with being approached whilst chewing.
18.
Your dog is laying on the couch. Your kid wants to join him. How can you make this safe?
Correct Answer
B. I would first call the dog off the couch (nicely!), then have my kid climb on the couch and call the dog back on. That way, the dog has a choice.
Explanation
The explanation for the given answer is that by calling the dog off the couch and having the kid climb on, the dog is given a choice to either stay off the couch or join the kid. This ensures the safety of the kid as the dog may not be comfortable with sharing the couch at that moment. By giving the dog a choice, it minimizes the chances of any potential aggression or discomfort between the dog and the kid.
19.
This dog is really enjoying being dressed up!
Illustration source
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mccun934/2989867199
Photographer: Mike McCune https://www.flickr.com/photos/mccun934/
License: CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
No modifications made
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Dogs have no reason to enjoy being dressed up. This dog is looking away and lip-licking (these can be stress signals in dogs). Dressing up dogs can lead to an unsafe situations.
20.
The dog is relaxing or sleeping. Is this a safe moment for your child to approach the dog.
Illustration source:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kerim/2153560882
CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/
Author: Kerim
No modifications made
Correct Answer
B. No: The dog could be startled awake. And he might be wanting some peace. Let sleeping dogs lie!
21.
What do you see in this picture?
Correct Answer
B. I see a puppy being restrained close to a child's face. Licking can be an appeasement signal, so the dog might not be that comfortable.
Explanation
The correct answer is that the person sees a puppy being restrained close to a child's face. The explanation provided is that licking can be an appeasement signal, indicating that the dog might not be comfortable in this situation. This suggests that the person is interpreting the behavior of the dog as a sign of discomfort or unease rather than simply seeing it as an expression of love.
22.
What do you see in this picture?
Correct Answer
B. This is a stress grin, indicating the dog is very tense.
Explanation
The answer is correct because the picture shows a dog with its mouth open and lips pulled back, which is a common sign of stress or tension in dogs. This behavior is often referred to as a "stress grin" because it resembles a smile but is actually a sign of discomfort or anxiety. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the picture is that the dog is very tense.
23.
Your kid hugging your dog, good idea or bad idea?
Correct Answer
B. Most dogs dislike being hugged because they can't walk away, and close face-to-face contact can be intimidating to them. Some like it though.
Explanation
What to do: 1. HONESTLY check for signs of discomfort (stress signals) and interrupt/redirect the show of affection if I see any; and I 2. Have your child invite the dog to come into their space, and not the other way round
24.
My kids love to kiss my dog in the face. Good idea or bad idea?
Correct Answer
B. Many dogs find close face-to-face contact intimidating. There are plenty of other ways to show a dog affection that the dog does love.
Explanation
Kissing a dog in the face may not be a good idea as many dogs find close face-to-face contact intimidating. While it may seem cute, it is important to consider the dog's comfort and boundaries. There are plenty of other ways to show a dog affection that they do enjoy, such as petting, playing, and giving treats.
25.
Your kid is teaching your dog a trick. This is how the dog looks. What do you do?
Correct Answer
B. The dog is showing a stress signal (lip-licking), so it might be that he is feeling under pressure. I intervene and coach my kid to train more collaboratively.
Explanation
The dog is showing a stress signal (lip-licking), indicating that he may be feeling under pressure. It is important to intervene and coach the child to train the dog more collaboratively, ensuring that the dog's well-being and comfort are prioritized during the training process.
26.
My kids are forever picking up the dog.
Correct Answer
B. A dog is not a toy and should have a choice about where he goes.
It can also lead to dogs who tense up when approached.
Explanation
The correct answer explains that a dog is not a toy and should have a choice about where it goes. This means that the dog should not be constantly picked up by the kids without its consent. This is important because treating a dog like a toy can lead to negative consequences, such as the dog becoming tense or uncomfortable when approached. Dogs, like any living being, deserve to have their boundaries respected and should not be treated as objects to be constantly handled without their consent.
27.
Is this appropriate child-dog interaction?
Correct Answer
A. Most dogs find sustained eye contact (staring) intimidating. Best to switch to something less intense.
Explanation
Dogs typically find sustained eye contact or staring to be intimidating. This can make them feel uncomfortable or threatened. It is generally recommended to avoid prolonged eye contact with dogs and instead engage in less intense interactions to ensure a positive and safe interaction between children and dogs.
28.
What do you see here?
Correct Answer
B. Yawning can be a stress signal in dogs. He might not be very comfortable with this interaction.
Explanation
The explanation for the given answer is that yawning can be a stress signal in dogs. It indicates that the dog might not be very comfortable with the interaction happening in the picture.