American Humane offers curriculum to prevent dog bites in children

The American Humane Association recently created the "Kids Interacting with Dogs Safely" curriculum to help prevent dog bites in children ages 7 and younger.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of injuries from dog bites is highest for children ages 5 to 9. The American Humane KIDS program aims not to frighten young children but to teach them consideration for dogs' reactions in certain situations—such as a child pulling on a dog's tail.

The KIDS curriculum meets national education standards. It includes games, activities, worksheets, songs, a coloring book, and a live-action DVD. The materials are available for purchase at www.americanhumane.org.

Since 2007, the AVMA also has distributed a resource to help prevent dog bites in young children. The Blue Dog Parent Guide and CD, from the Blue Dog Trust in the United Kingdom, targets children ages 3 to 6. The materials combine text with interactive, nonverbal animation. An order form is here.