Sometimes a dog's bite is worse than its bark.
Dog bites are common injuries. And children are at the greatest risk for being bitten. To lower your children's risk of a dog bite, the <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=aap" target="_blank">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=aspca" target="_blank">American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals</a>&nbsp;offer this advice: 
<ul>
 <li>If you have a dog, teach your child how to behave around it. </li>
 <li>Never leave your infant or young children alone with any dog. </li>
 <li>Teach your child never to surprise or scare a dog and never to approach an unfamiliar dog. </li>
 <li>Tell your child to stand still if chased or approached by a dog. Teach the child not to run, kick or make any kind of threatening gesture. Instead, he or she should face the dog and avoid eye contact. </li>
 <li>If your child is bitten, contact his or her doctor any time the skin is broken&mdash;even if it appears to be a minor bite. The doctor will need to make sure the child's tetanus immunization is current. </li>
</ul>
Reviewed 4/12/2024

Experts offer advice to reduce dog bites

Supervision and education can help protect your child from dog bites.