Children’s Safety Around Dogs: Canine Expert Ivars Lielpēteris Shares His Advice

Summer holidays are a time when children spend especially much time outdoors and in nature, where they often encounter four-legged friends. Dogs immediately attract their attention, but how should children act and what should they keep in mind when approaching an unfamiliar dog so that they can feel safe around it? Experienced canine expert Ivars Lielpēteris offers a range of useful tips that both children and parents should bear in mind. This summer, he is also leading sessions of the Summer Dog School for children as an expert at the “Labās mājas” animal shelter—an unprecedented social responsibility initiative organised by the online store Barbora.lv.

Ivars Lielpēteris has spent most of his life communicating with dogs and trying to understand the psychology of these pets. For us adults, pets’ behaviour in various situations is often familiar and almost self-evident, but children, who are still discovering the world, primarily rely on their instincts when interacting with a dog and may therefore find themselves in dangerous situations. Regardless of whether a child lives with a dog every day or encounters one unexpectedly outside the home, parents should be able to explain from an early age, in language that the younger generation can understand, how to act correctly in unforeseen situations so as not to endanger their own safety or that of those around them.

The first and most important rule that the canine expert urges people to observe when encountering a dog on the street or in nature is not to run up to it or touch it until the dog’s owner has given permission, confirming that the dog is not aggressive. Once permission has been granted, the dog may be approached slowly and calmly, with one’s hand extended in front, allowing the four-legged friend to understand that it is not in danger. Dogs, like people, are afraid of quick and sudden movements, so it is important not to cause them unnecessary anxiety. It can happen that not all dogs are immediately open to communicating with unfamiliar people or children, so their reaction should be carefully observed when approaching them. If the dog backs away or walks off, it should not be chased or forcibly petted. Similarly, under no circumstances should anyone touch a dog that is eating or growling while guarding its belongings and private territory.

If a child happens to encounter a dog wandering alone without its owner, the first thing to do is report it to their parents or other adults nearby so that, after assessing the situation, they can inform the dog’s owner or the relevant authorities. The unfamiliar dog must not be touched or approached. It is also important to remain calm around the dog, not to shout or make sudden movements that could frighten it. If the animal nevertheless displays aggression, growls or approaches the child, it must be remembered that the child should not suddenly run away, and especially should not turn their back on the dog. The child should slowly back away while facing the dog. If the dog attempts to bite, the child can protect themselves by fending off the bite with a backpack, bicycle, jacket wrapped around an outstretched arm, or another nearby object that immediately blocks the dog’s movements.

The main point that canine expert Ivars Lielpēteris urges people to remember is that a dog attacks and bites when it is frightened or tired, when it feels pain or discomfort, or when it is protecting its territory. One should not approach an unfamiliar dog either when it is wandering alone or when it is out walking with its owner, because even trained dogs can be unpredictable when they find themselves outside their comfort zone. It is important to teach children this from an early age, reminding them that animals need not be feared, but should be treated with understanding, respect and caution.

Canine expert Ivars Lielpēteris presents these and other tips on children’s safety around dogs in person to primary-school-age children at the Summer Dog School sessions organised by the online grocery store Barbora.lv, which are taking place this summer at the “Labās mājas” Animal Shelter. The next sessions in the informative and entertaining series of events will take place on 17 and 24 August. Information about registration will be published soon on the Barbora.lv Facebook page.