Dogs usually make great pets, but sometimes they bite. Phoenix Children's Hospital offers advice on ways to avoid nasty nips, or worse:
- Never leave infants or toddlers alone with a dog;
- If you don't have a dog when your child is born, wait until he or she is at least 6 years old to get one;
- Teach kids not to tease, hurt or take objects from a dog.
- Tell your kids to report bites from an unfamiliar dog to an adult immediately. Note if the dog had a collar, what it looked like and which way it went. Then wash the bite with soap and water and seek a doctor's assistance.
And the hospital offers this advice for people of all ages: never bother a dog that's eating or sleeping; never grab a dog, even your own, during a dogfight (instead stand aside and sharply yell "no"), and if you're ever attacked, curl up in a ball and cover your face.
