# Kids and Dogs: Preventing Bites and Staying Safe With Pets

> How to read a dog's stress signals, teach kids to approach dogs, handle a bite and stay safe with other pets.

Stage: toddler - Topic: Safety - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/toddler/dog-bites-and-pet-safety

Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren guidance on dog bite prevention and pets, CDC guidance on healthy pets and preventing dog bites, and the American Veterinary Medical Association's dog bite prevention guidance. Summarized in Cradle's own words; none of these sources endorse Cradle. General information, not medical advice.

Reviewed: 2026-11

## TLDR

- Most dog bites to young children come from a dog they know, often to the face.
- Watch actively or separate with a gate. Learn stress signals like lip licking and stiffening, and never punish a growl.
- Teach ask-sniff-pat on the back, no hugging. Have any bite that breaks the skin, or any face or hand bite, checked promptly.

## What's important to know

- Most dog bites to young children come from a dog they know: the family dog, a relative's or a
  neighbor's. Gentle dogs bite too when stressed, hurt or startled.
- Young children are bitten on the face and neck more often because they're at a dog's eye level.
- Supervision means an adult actively watching, not just being in the house. When you can't watch,
  separate with a gate, crate or closed door.

## Read the dog

- Stress signals: lip licking, yawning, turning the head away, showing the whites of the eyes,
  ears pinned back, tail tucked, freezing or going stiff, growling.
- A growl is a warning, not misbehavior. Don't punish it; move the child away and give the dog
  space.
- Let dogs eat, sleep and chew in peace, and give them a quiet spot children can't reach.

## Teach your child

- Ask the owner, then let the dog sniff before a gentle pat on the back or side, not the head.
- No hugging, kissing, climbing on, chasing or pulling ears and tails.
- If a strange dog comes close, "be a tree": stand still, arms folded in, look at your feet.
  If knocked down, curl into a ball and protect the face and neck.
- Model it yourself; toddlers copy what they see.

## A new baby and a dog

- Before the birth or adoption, practice calm routines and let the dog get used to baby sounds and
  smells. See the new sibling guides for preparing the household.
- Never leave a baby or toddler alone with any dog, even for a moment. If the dog ever growls or
  snaps at the baby, talk with a veterinarian or certified behavior professional.

## Other pets

- Wash hands after touching animals, food bowls, cages or tanks.
- The CDC advises families with children under 5 to avoid turtles and other reptiles, amphibians
  and backyard poultry, which commonly carry salmonella.
- Keep litter boxes and pet food out of reach. Anyone pregnant should let someone else change the
  litter.
- Cat scratches and bites can become infected; clean them well.

## If a bite happens

1. Calm your child and press with a clean cloth if bleeding.
2. Wash with soap and running water for several minutes.
3. Cover with a clean bandage.
4. Find out the dog's owner and rabies vaccination status.
- Bites that break the skin should be seen the same day; they often need antibiotics and a tetanus
  check, and sometimes rabies shots. Watch for redness, swelling or pus.

## When to check in

- Have any bite that broke the skin, any face or hand bite, and any bite from an unknown or wild
  animal checked promptly.
- Bring up fear of dogs, or worries about your own dog's behavior, at a checkup or with a vet.
- If bleeding won't stop with firm pressure or the bite is severe, call 911.