Readers reply: how can you prevent dogs jumping at children? How should I respond when it happens?
Whenever we go walking in the countryside with our three-year-old, dogs approach him and frighten him. He has never come to harm, but there is always a concern. It happens within seconds. Typically, the owners either airily tell us their dog is harmless, or they more aggressively say: “What are you afraid of?” Does anyone else have this problem? How can you prevent dogs jumping at children? How should I respond when it happens? Tracey Lewis, Diss, Suffolk
Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.
Readers reply
Teach him to stand still, turn his back and fold his arms whenever a dog approaches him. This communicates dominance and a lack of interest, and dogs will quickly leave him alone. Julia Foren
It’s worth trying to understand what the dog is trying to do. It wants to put its front paws on the person – either as play or to dominate. One tip for your child is to stand still but then, as the dog jumps, to either step backwards or lift your knee which removes the ability of the dog to rest its paws. I’ve found doing that a few times along with a firm “no” and the dog stops. Jon Hegerty
I think it is awful the way some dog owners behave. I’ve seen dogs running about, knocking children over
