Child / Dog Safety

As parents ourselves we understand how important it is for children to know and respect the proper way to play interact and handle a dog regardless of whether or not the dog is the family pet. Because of this we offer a Child / Dog Safety Level 1 course for 18mths to 4 years old and a Level 2 course for 5 to 12 years old. We encourage one or both parents to attend with the child as they learn how to properly approach and handle a dog.

Level 1 course teaches children ages 18mths to 4 years old how :

To Be a Tree
The 3 Simple Steps to Meeting a dog
6 Canine Stress Signals
Tenasha’s Bad Rules
It is a 30 min session that we encourage both child and parent to attend so that the parents can put into practice at home and when they are out in public with their children what they learned.
Along with the course there are also color sheets and little quizzes that the parents can do at home with their children. One on One sessions cost $20. Group rates are available.

Level 2 course teaches children ages 5 to 12 yrs old how:

To Be a Tree
The 3 Simple Steps to Meeting a dog
6 Canine Stress Signals
Tenasha’s Bad Rules
Learn to Speak Dog
Why a Dog Growls
It is a 45 min session with take home work sheets that also touches on how to care for a dog, owning a dog and more that the children can take home and share with their parents and other family members.
One on One sessions cost $35. However group are available.

The four main lessons in both Levels are:

To Be A Tree
Teaching children to BE A TREE around loose or bouncy dogs is a great safety technique. Most children under 12 years old don’t know how to behave or interact properly with dogs especially strange dogs. Because of this, children under 12 are more likely to be bite by a dog then a letter carrier or delivery person is. Children need to be taught proper manners and behaviour around dogs just like they are taught proper manners and behaviour for school and in the home.

6 Canine Stress Signals
Teaches children and parents the 6 most common signs that a dog is upset or stressed and should be left alone to prevent the dog becoming aggressive, defensive and biting. This is on a easy to read and follow bookmark that the children and parents can keep on the fridge or in a favourite book the child like to read.

The 3 Simple Steps to Meeting a dog
Teaches children when it is safe to meet a strange dog as well as how this is done. This is on a easy to read and follow bookmark that parents can keep on the fridge or in a book the child like to read. This is also great to role play at home with the parents to make sure the children always know and remember how to meet a new dog.

Tenasha’s Bad Rules
These are rules that kids in Tenasha’s dog obedience classes call the "bad rules" because they don't like some of them. Rather then just teaching the children what they shouldn’t do these rules also teach the children safe and fun alternatives for playing and interacting with dogs.
Following these dos and don’ts will help keep promote child safety around dogs and prevent dog bites. Here are three of the 13 rules that children and parents should know.
1. Do not hug a dog, put your face close to his face or lie on him. Do sit beside your dog, rub his chest or scratch him on the side of the neck.
2. Do not play chase-me games with a dog. Do play hide and seek - where the dog has to find you or an object that you hide.
3. Do not play tug-of-war games with a dog. Do play fetch with the dog - teach the dog to trade the object for a treat so he won't try to tug.

Parent Testimonials

Parent 1:
Thank you so much for teaching my child and I about Child / Dog safety. The information you covered opened my eyes to ways to protect my family we never would have know about other wise.

Parent 2:
This course gave me a better idea of how to teach my children what to do and how to play with our dog. I would definitely recommend this course to other families and would like to bring my children back for level 2 when they are older.

Parent 3:
You really hit home and covered a lot of things that made me feel this course was suited just for my child. Thank you so much, we are definitely going to apply your do’s and don’ts you taught us today in the future.

Parent 4:
I have always been intimidated by dogs especially big dogs. It was so nice to meet Thor and learn the 3 simple steps to meeting a dog as well as the 6 canine stress signals to watch for. Thank you so much. Thor is a wonderful dog.

Parent 5:
This would be a great course to teach in schools. I would definitely recommend this course.