Is it any wonder that when children see a real animal they want to do the same to them? And, according to a statistic from the U.S. Humane Society, 2.8 million children were bitten by dogs in 1995, the latest year for which complete figures have been compiled. Many of those dogs are the family pet or a friend or neighbor's dog. Some children aren't taught the proper way to associate with a dog. It's an important lesson, even if you don't own a pet. It's inevitable that children will encounter dogs, whether they are strays, on a leash, in a fenced back yard or at someone's home.

There aren't a lot of resources available to assist parents in this lesson. Some books offer brief chapters on the subject. And many local chapters of the Animal Protection Association have a humane education coordinator who makes free presentations for schools or any group that wants to teach children about safety around dogs.

Here are several important rules parents should teach their children:

First, never run from a dog.
Sometimes parents are afraid of dogs and they instill that fear in their children without teaching them a proper response. A scared child sees a dog and sometimes the first thing he does is run or scream or flail his arms -- all actions that will scare a dog or cause it to run after him. If a dog approaches and the owner isn't around, stand still. Stand straight with your arms by your side and your feet together. Tell them to fold their arms to their chest and bow their heads like a mummy.

Second, Never look at the dog.
Many dogs consider it a threat or challenge when someone stares at them. That's especially true of children since they are closer to a dog's height. Tell your children to be very quiet, no matter how frightened they are. Usually, if a dog doesn't feel threatened, it will approach, sniff and then walk away. Wait until the dog is a good distance away before you move.

Third, If a dog jumps up
Or if your child is already sitting down when a dog approaches, tell your child to pretend he is a rock or a roly-poly bug. Tell the child to curl up on his side with his knees tucked close to his chest. Make his hands into fists and put them over his ears. And tuck his head and arms close and be still.

Fourth, If a dog approaches children while they are biking,
tell them to immediately stop and put the bike between them and the dog. Tell them to use their bike as a shield, and again, not make eye contact with the dog. Stay still until the dog goes away.

If you have a dog in your home, or your children will visit other homes that have a dog, there are several points you should stress to your children:

First, don't rush up to a dog.
Many times that frightens them and they may bite out of fear.

Always ask the dog's owner, an adult,
if the dog is friendly and if it's all right to pet the dog. If the owner says it's OK, then rub the dog gently along its back or side.

Never bother a dog
that is sleeping, eating, or playing with a toy.

Don't bother a mother dog or her puppies
without the dog's adult owner there to supervise.

Children should also learn and watch for signals that a dog gives to tell what it is feeling:

A happy dog is wagging its tail and its ears are relaxed.
A scared dog will have its tail tucked, ears lying flat and may be shaking and whining.
An angry dog will bark ferociously, bare its teeth, growl. It will even wag its tail, but it's not a happy wag.
It's usually a sharp back and forth kind of motion. If the dog is on a leash, tied up or in a back yard and the child is on the other side of the fence, don't go near the animal.

Copyright 1998, The Detroit News