It’s not nice when a dog bites a child, but it does happen. Dogs are wild animals, and children are small and fast. Add the two together, and you have a disaster waiting to happen. Attacks can range from mild issues, such as a nip, to more severe problems, which are difficult to overcome.
If your child has fallen victim to a severe bite, it’s important to take legal action with professionals like DeSalvo personal injury attorneys. This is crucial to help you and your family move forward, and ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else.
But, that’s far from the only step you need to take. The chances are that your child will become nervous around dogs in the aftermath of their experience. Even a small nip can be enough to put them on edge. And, if you don’t address the issue, that nervousness could develop into a lifelong fear.
Here’s how to stop it from happening.
Keep your fear in check
Without realizing, children learn a lot from their parents. This includes fears. Look at the age-old arachnophobia; there’s no logical reason for it. It’s thought to be passed down through generations.
As protector, the chances are that you’ll get nervous on your child’s behalf when a dog’s around. You may snatch them off the ground, or act on edge. But, you shouldn’t. Your child will pick up on your fear, and become more afraid than they were.
Instead, act completely normal around dogs. It’ll be difficult, but it’s essential to getting your little one back on track. If it helps, spend some time around dogs you know and love when you’re alone. That way, you’ll be in a better place when it comes to dogs you and your child see when you’re out.
Don’t avoid dogs
It’s also essential that you don’t avoid dogs to keep your child happy. It may seem like the kindest thing, but that’s not the case. In fact, it would be better to have dogs around purposefully. That way, the fear will never have time to form.
If your child already has dogs in their cuddly toy collection, make a particular effort to play with these. It’s also worth taking them to the park, or to the houses of friends which have dogs. If things seem to be going well, now could also be a good time to invest in a furry friend for your home. Though an extreme step, few children can resist a puppy. It’ll nip the fear in the bud straight away.
Know when to stop pushing
It may seem contradictory, but it’s also important you know when to stop pushing. There’s a fine line between not avoiding the issue, and making an even bigger deal of it. If you go too far, you could actually make things worse. To prevent that happening, stay in tune with your child. Listen to what they tell you, and judge whether they’re just a little nervous, or in real distress.
