Dog Bite Prevention in the Home and Baby/Toddler Safety

Course overview

Human pregnancy, infant, and toddler phases are very different and present unique challenges, risks and solutions. Veterinarians, as part of the family health care team and as public health providers, are frequently called upon after a dog behaves aggressively or bites a child. Dog bites are a symptom of a larger, usually chronic problem that may have been avoided with proper education, intervention, and management. This 4-part series serves to inform veterinary professionals on how to better educate and support families with dogs and children. Through a better understanding of the dog as a canid species, their developmental stages and impacts on behavior, we can guide families in how to prevent childhood bites and decrease the chances of a dog being relinquished.