With Child Safety Week in mind and our recent items regarding Dog Contol Orders, Louise Glazebrook, Hackney dog behaviourist and trainer, advises about the importance of keeping children safe around dogs.

Louise writes in her blog "This week is Child Safety Week, as far as I understand it is about promoting safe practices around children. So I decided it would be worth discussing dogs and children...

There are various statistics online but I think some of the more important ones are that most dog bites are with children under the age of 9 and the most likely place for a child to get bitten is at their grandparents. Very often it is because the children and adults become complacent about the dog and child.

I feel that it is incredibly important we show children how to safely interact with dogs and how to read some of their body language. To help prevent dog bites, aggression and children becoming injured and scared. For me it is about mutual respect, children should not treat dogs like toys and dogs should understand there are boundaries.

As dog owners we have a responsilbility to teach our dogs how to behave around children, we shouldn't be letting dogs jump, snatch or chase children - what you allow your dog to do is what they learn is acceptable. And the same with children, if you allow your children to pull its own dog's tail it will think its ok to do it to every dog and it is isn't.

For me, if you have children and own a dog its crucial that you teach children the responsibility of owning a dog so get them involved with the feeding, the walking, the toilet training, washing the bedding and so forth. But most of all its imperative that they are part of the training. In my classes and with one on one sessions, children are always welcome.

As dog owners we have a responsilbility to teach our dogs how to behave around children, we shouldn't be letting dogs jump, snatch or chase children - what you allow your dog to do is what they learn is acceptable. And the same with children, if you allow your children to pull its own dog's tail it will think its ok to do it to every dog and it is isn't.

For me, if you have children and own a dog its crucial that you teach children the responsibility of owning a dog so get them involved with the feeding, the walking, the toilet training, washing the bedding and so forth. But most of all its imperative that they are part of the training. In my classes and with one on one sessions, children are always welcome.

You might also want to check out the Kennel Club's new scheme 'Safe &  Sound' you could even recommend it to your local school or nursery."

For loads more info see Louise's web and blog.

Three dangerous dogs seized

Help take the lead