But pets also carry a responsibility beyond feeding and grooming. Children must learn to respect their pet and recognize the potential dangers any animal can present. Children are more likely than adults to be bitten by domesticated animals, including their own family pets. Younger children, especially, treat pets as they would a toy and may inadvertently provoke a bite by teasing or mistreating the animal. When an animal is upset, scared, hurt or angry, its natural instinct is to bark, scratch or bite in order to protect itself.
Dogs are also very territorial and can misinterpret a child's body language as a threat.
An older dog that was raised with children is a good choice because it is less likely to bite or scratch than a frisky puppy. Personalities vary between breeds, so avoid those that have been bred for aggressiveness. It is impossible to predict when that instinct will resurface and endanger a child. Never leave a young child alone with an animal. Many bites occur during periods of playful roughhousing because the child doesn't realize when the animal has become overexcited.