Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-11T10:43:38.983Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Advising the Alien: Investigating Young Children's Learning of Dog Safety Messages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2012

Sue Nichols ,
Kirrilly Thompson  and
Sarah Blunden
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a dog safety program on the protective behaviour knowledge of children in the first year of school. This mixed methods study utilised pre- and post-testing (N = 121), observation of six sessions and individual interviews with a sub-group of children (N = 49). These interviews utilised a co-constructed narrative strategy where children were invited to assist an imaginary alien to safely navigate hypothetical safety scenarios. All schools improved their knowledge of safe dog interactions, with an overall increase in knowledge of 18%. Most children were able to apply abstract knowledge to hypothetical scenarios involving accompanied and unaccompanied dogs. Of concern, 24% of children still believed that dogs liked being patted on their heads and 16% of children had not overcome their intuitive reaction to run from a threatening dog. Whilst the program has made significant improvements to children's knowledge of safe dog-interactions, more gains can be made. We identify important opportunities for improving dog safety programs in general. We comment on the need to consider the impact of different models of child–dog relations in terms of either similitude or difference.

Keywords

childrensafetypreventionriskknowledge integrationeducational intervention
Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , September 2012 , pp. 115 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Al-Fayez, G., Awadalla, A., Templer, D., & Arikawa, H. (2003). Companion animal attitude and its family pattern in Kuwait. Society and Animals, 11 (1), 17–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
American Veterinary Medical Association (2001). A community approach to dog bite prevention. Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association, 218 (11), 1732–1749.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Australian Companion Animal Council (2010). Contribution of the pet care industry to the Australian economy, 7th ed. Accessed online January 20, 2011, http://www.acac.org.au/pdf/ACAC%20Report%200810_sm.pdf.Google Scholar
Bernardo, L.M., Gardner, M. J., O'Dair, J., & Cohen, B. (2001). The PAWS program: Pediatric animal awareness and safety. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 27 (4), 387–390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bradley, S., & Litchfield, C.A. (2009). A review of the relationship between indigenous Australians, dingoes (Canis dingo) and domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Anthrozoos, 22 (2), 111–128.Google Scholar
Chapman, S., Cornwall, Righetti, J. Sung, J. , L. (2000). Preventing dog bites in children: Randomised controlled trial of an educational intervention. British Medical Journal, 320, 1512–1513.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coleman, G.J., Hall, M.J., & Hay, M. (2008). An evaluation of a pet ownership education program for school children. Anthrozoos, 21 (3), 271–284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feldman, K., Trent, R., & Jay, M. (2004). Epidemiology of hospitalizations resulting from dog bites in California, 1991–1998. American Journal of Public Health, 94 (11), 1940–1941.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gladwin, M. (2005). Children's perceptions of risk in play: Some research findings from England. PlayRights Journal, 26 (3), 4–8.Google Scholar
Greenhaulgh, C., Cockington, R., & Raftos, J. (1991). An epidemiological survey of dog bites presenting to the emergency department of a children's hospital. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 27 (3), 171–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harden, J., Backett-Milburn, K., Scott, S., & Jackson, , S. (2000). Scary faces, scary places: Children's perceptions of risk and safety. Health Education Journal, 59, 12–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Headey, B. (1999). Health benefits and health cost savings due to pets: Preliminary estimates from an Australian national survey. Social Indicators Research, 47 (2), 233–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horisberger, U., Stark, K., Rüfenacht, C., Pillonel, C., & Steiger, A. (2004). The epidemiology of dog bite injuries in Switzerland: Characteristics of victims, biting dogs and circumstances. Anthrozoös, 17 (4), 320–339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jarvis, P. (2007). Monsters, magic and Mr. Psycho: A bicultural approach to rough and tumble play in the early years of primary school. Early Years, 27 (2), 171–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kahn, A., Bauche, P., & Lamoureux, J. (2003). Child victims of dog bites treated in emergency departments: a prospective survey. European Journal of Pediatrics, 162 (4), 254–258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacBean, C.E., Taylor, D., & Ashby, K. (2007). Animal and human bite injuries in Victoria, 1998–2004. Medical Journal of Australia, 186 (1), 38–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacNaughton, G. (1995). The power of Mum!: Gender and power at play. Watson, ACT: Australian Early Childhood Association.Google Scholar
Meints, K., & de Keuster, T. (2009). Brief report: Don't kiss a sleeping dog. The first assessment of ‘The Blue Dog’ bite prevention program. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34 (10), 1084–1090.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peak, K. (2002). Safe Kids/Safe Dogs. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 28 (5), 450–452.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pellegrini, A.D. (1993). Boys rough-and-tumble play, social competence and group composition, British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 11 (3) 237–248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, D.B. (2000). Dingo makes us human: Life and land in an Australian Aboriginal culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Thompson, P.G. (1997). The public health impact of dog attacks in a major Australian city. Medical Journal of Australia, 167 (3), 129–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, F., Dwyer, F., & Bennett, P. (2003). Prevention of dog bites: Evaluation of a brief educational intervention program for preschool children. Journal of Community Psychology, 31 (1), 75–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, L., Giles-Corti, B., & Bulsara, M. (2005). The pet connection: pets as a conduit for social capital? Social Science and Medicine, 61 (6), 1159–1173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed