Teaching Children Dog Safety - BBC Radio Interview
Dog bites involving children are far more common than most people realise. Recent research shows that 1 in 5 children in the South West have been bitten by a pet — and in most cases, it wasn’t because the dog was “aggressive”.
It’s usually because the dog was misunderstood.
As a professional dog behaviourist based in St Agnes, I recently spoke with James Churchfield about the importance of educating children on dog behaviour, body language, and safe interaction. This conversation reflects something I see every week in my work: dogs communicate clearly we just aren’t always taught how to listen.
Why children are at higher risk of dog bites
Children don’t naturally understand canine body language. They move quickly, get close to faces, hug tightly, and often approach dogs without warning — all behaviours that can make even the calmest dog uncomfortable.
Some of the most common situations that lead to bites include:
Approaching dogs while they are eating or sleeping
Hugging dogs around the neck or face
Running toward unfamiliar dogs
Ignoring early warning signs of stress
Dogs rarely bite “out of nowhere”. They give signals long before that point — but those signals are often missed.
Educating people, not just training dogs
One of the key points I discussed in the interview is that dog safety isn’t just about training dogs — it’s about educating people.
Dogs use subtle body language to express discomfort, stress, or fear. These signals can include:
Turning their head away
Lip licking or yawning
Freezing or stiffening
Showing the whites of their eyes
Lowering ears or tail
When children are taught to recognise these signs, they learn when to pause, step back, or avoid interaction altogether. That knowledge alone can prevent countless incidents.
I’m about educating people just as much as the dogs.
Teaching children how to approach dogs safely
Recently, children at a local school took part in lessons focused on safe behaviour around dogs. These sessions covered:
Always asking permission before approaching a dog
Understanding when not to approach a dog
Recognising stress and fear signals
Remaining calm, slow, and predictable
The aim isn’t to create fear — it’s to build confidence, awareness, and respect. When children understand dogs better, interactions become safer and more positive for everyone involved.
Prevention is better than correction
From a behaviourist’s perspective, prevention is always better than correction. Teaching children how to interact safely with dogs reduces:
Dog bite incidents
Stress and anxiety in dogs
The risk of dogs being unfairly blamed or rehomed
Education protects both sides of the lead.
A shared responsibility
Keeping children safe around dogs is a shared responsibility between dog owners, parents, schools, and communities. Early education helps children develop lifelong skills that improve safety and strengthen the human–dog relationship.
As dog ownership continues to rise, understanding canine behaviour is no longer optional — it’s essential.
Supporting safer communities through education
At ConnorTrainsDogs, my work isn’t just about training dogs — it’s about helping people understand them. Conversations like the one with James Churchfield help spread awareness and encourage proactive education, which ultimately leads to safer homes, calmer dogs, and more confident children.
If you’d like to learn more about dog behaviour, body language, or safety education, feel free to explore the resources on this site or get in touch.
Listen to BBC Radio Cornwall
This topic was recently discussed on BBC Radio Cornwall, highlighting the importance of educating children on dog behaviour and safe interaction.
Listen on BBC Radio Cornwall
Special thanks to James Churchfield for the interview and for helping raise awareness around child safety and responsible dog education.