Dog Safety

DOG SAFETY CLASSES FOR CHILDREN
How children act around dogs must be taught. With the increased population of dogs in this country, there have been more bite cases with children too. The program I teach involves showing the children how to respect a dog, how to act around strange dogs, how to feed a dog, and several other rules about dog safety. I’ve gone to several day care centers in the area for the past 2 years, and have worked out a 20 minute safety program with my sweet girl, Jezzie Belle.

Jess Big Creek's Jezzie Belle, UD, Can. CDX, CGC, TDI
“Jess” is a 6 year old female rottweiler who has earned an American and Canadian Companion Dog Excellent obedience titles (and is presently training for her Utility Title), with top honors from both countries. She has passed all tests to become a Registered Therapy Dog with Therapy Dogs International.
See Jezz in the news.

My Program
The Equipment I Take With Me:

Scent articles
Bag of popcorn
Kids “Snoopy” fanny pack with zippered pocket
Water and Water Bowl

My program starts with a quick introduction of myself and Jezzie Belle. I tell the kids about how Jezzie will be showing them how to be safe around dogs.
To break the ice, I play a game of follow the leader (which every child knows) using Jess as the one they must follow and do as she does. After the kids have lined up behind Jess, I do a simple square healing pattern until I see the children have the idea of staying in line and watching Me and Jess. Then I begin doing serpentines and circles, periodically doing a halt (and Jezzie automatically sits). When the kids get the hang of having to sit on the floor when Jezzie does, I throw in the signal exercise from Utility. Just before I give her the signal for “stay” hand signal, I warn the kids that sometimes Jezzie does some silly things when we’re walking, and to watch her closely. I give her the “stay” signal, and continue to walk away about 5-6 strides. I act surprised that all of a sudden I’ve lost my healing partner, turn around facing Jess. I start to talk to Jess asking her why she didn’t raise her hand to ask if she could stop. I demonstrate raising my hand, and Jezzie drops to the floor. The kids love it, and lay down behind Jess. Then I tell Jess that she shouldn’t be laying down on the job and give her the “sit” hand signal. The kids scramble to sit up along with Jess. I then tell Jezzie that she’s supposed to be over here with me, and give the recall hand signal. Jess comes and does a front. The kids get up and follow and are really having a wonderful time.
Next, I have the kids sit down at one end of the room, and we begin to talk about how to act around dogs. I talk about using quiet voices when we’re around dogs, that we never run away from dogs how we stand quiet with our hands to our sides when we meet a dog we don’t know and how dogs say hello to people by using their noses to smell us first.
I have the kids form a circle around me, and tell them we’re going to pretend that they don’t know Jezzie. They practice standing still as I take Jess from child to child. The children ask me if they can pet my dog, I tell them yes, and they allow Jess to smell them first before they are allowed to pet her.
Another thing I teach the children is how to feed a dog. I show them how to hold their hands flat with their fingers together, and to hold their hand low enough for the dog to get the treat so the dog won’t jump on them. I hand every child two pieces of popcorn, one for each hand. I go around the circle the first time letting Jess eat the popcorn. I hold each child’s hand making sure all fingers are out of the way, and that they are holding their hands low enough. In the second trip around the circle for the second piece of popcorn, I try and let them do it on their own. At this time, some of the kids draw their hands back, and I can correct them and tell them not to move their hands when feeding a dog.
The next part of my program is when Jezzie gives each child a piece of candy. She wears a child’s fanny pack which is a stuffed Snoopy dog with a zippered area in his tummy. The pack fits around Jezzie’s neck perfectly. I go around the circle, and each child must reach under Jezzie’s chin to get the piece of candy. This is a wonderful time for the children who are afraid of Jess to get really brave. They don’t want to be the only one that doesn’t get candy, and they must reach right under her chin to get it (aren’t I a little devil?)
The last thing I do is tell the children they may come and say hi to Jess. All of a sudden, Jezzie has 20 kids surrounding her, petting her and loving her. She’s in dog heaven. I have seen in each class, one or two children who were afraid of Jess, reach around and at least touch Jess to say Good bye.
If just one child remembers what I’ve taught them, and avoids being bitten by a dog, my job has been well worth every moment I’ve spent teaching Dog Safety Classes with Jezzie Belle.