With the end of summer approaching and cooler weather setting in, we can look forward to pets and their people spending more time together indoors. Sharing the home with our pets means more opportunities for bonding but can also mean more stressful times as the space available for all the living things in the home, including the children and the pets, is navigated. We all know the importance of working with our dogs on proper social behavior around people.  We sometimes forget to actually teach our children proper behavior around dogs. Even our own dogs. Remember ALL dogs can bite when stressed or frightened.
The internet is full of helpful sites on pet and child safety.  There are far too many to list here, but the sites below will give you a good start.  They are in no particular order, nor does TASP recommend any one in particular.  Choose the information that fits best with your needs and keep exploring online.
The following sites have downloadable coloring activities to complete with your children.  This is a great interactive way to teach bite prevention and other safety tips.

  • Safe Kids Safe Dogs has a downloadable ebook on safety.  https://www.safekidssafedogs.com/index.html
  • American Kennel Club provides a 20 page workbook with games, mazes, puzzles and pictures to color, to encourage safe behavior around dogs.        http://images.akc.org/pdf/PBSAF2.pdf
  • American Veterinary Medical Association provides over 20 pages of illustrated safety tips for children to color.

https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/dog_bite_prevention_coloring_book.pdf

  • This site has some videos to share with your family:

https://www.lovethatpet.com/dogs/training-and-behaviour/dog-safety-kids/  Along with written information, this site includes 2 short videos; The Zoom Room Guide to Dog Body Language, and Dog Consent to Pet Test.

  • For general information from a well known magazine try:

http://www.parenting.com/article/kids-and-pets-a-safety-guide general information

  • FPPEE provides specialized programs for new and expecting families with dogs.

https://www.familypaws.com/resources/ FPPE is the parent organization of two International licensed programs: Dogs & Storks® and Dogs & Toddlers™ .    
These and countless other internet sites offer you great information and activities to explore the topic of safety for children and pets.  Please share the info with your network and help make this a super safe autumn. And enjoy!