Make friends and not foes
S. SAVITHA
|
Be a little careful while you pet dogs. Here are a few tips to follow.
|
PHOTO: MOHAMMED YOUSUF
Be aware: Of playing with stray dogs
So, you love the dog that lives on the other end of your street, and feed it with biscuits on days you get back early from school? Great! But a little caution is a must when you are dealing with dogs, especially those you don’t know.
Dr. Vasanth Shetty, Head of the Department of Surgery, Veterinary College, Hebbal, shared some tips on how children should “interact” with dogs, to make sure they make friends, and not foes.
During a long conversation with your pet at home, you might look into its eyes and narrate the events of the day. The pet knows you well…and reassures you by quietly licking your feet. Dogs on the street are different. If you look straight into their eyes, they might see it as an intrusion into their space. The threat perception might make them aggressive. Simply, avoid staring into the eyes of dogs you don’t know.
Don’t nag
Just like you and me, dogs can get irritated. Only, the reactions are different. Dogs don’t yell, make faces or cry to express their disapproval. They bite. Throwing stones at dogs or pulling their tails is a definite “No”.
Playing with the puppies
Those puppies under the staircase look so cute…and you want to play with them?
If they are puppies of a dog you know, its o.k. Otherwise, you are just asking for trouble.
An unknown dog might feel threatened if you play with its pups, and bite you to protect its young ones.
Don’t run if you are being chased
Riding your cycle on a warm breezy day, you turn into an unknown street. A dog begins to chase you. You cycle on at your fastest speed? Bad idea!
The best thing to do is stop and chase away the dog. If the idea of chasing the dog scares you, at least stop! If you try to run, the dog gets more aggressive.
Stay away from packs of dogs
Fielding at the street cricket match, you chase after a ball. But a pack of dogs gets to it faster than you do. Just let the ball go…there will be other matches to win.
Stay away from groups of dogs at all costs. They might be fighting over a piece of meat or ball…and getting in the middle is risky business.
Play in groups
Along with being more fun, its much safer. Dogs usually stay away from groups of children.
This is not to say don’t pet dogs or share those biscuits. But just be careful about not hurting yourself in the process.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
