A–Z Glossary

Unfamiliar dog

An unfamiliar dog is one a child does not know well, including a neighbor’s pet, park dog, or rarely seen relative’s animal.

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Teaching children safe behavior around unfamiliar dogs

Teaching children safe behavior around unfamiliar dogs

Why unfamiliar dogs require careful boundaries Children often judge a dog by its size, appearance, wagging tail, or the owner’s reassurance. These observations are not enough to establish safety. Dogs communicate through posture, movement, facial expression, vocalization, and changes in arousal, and those signals can be subtle. A wagging tail does not always mean a […]