Children and dogs go together like peanut butter and jelly, yet too often children are not taught how to behave safely around their canine friends. The Regina Humane Society and the Saskatchewan Health Authority have joined forces to reduce the number of dog bites in our community through education.

Be Dog Smart is a joint education initiative aimed at teaching children under the age of 12 how to behave safely around dogs. According to the Canada Safety Council, children are the most common victims of dog bites and are more likely to be severely injured. Children are most likely to be bitten on the arms, head and neck, resulting in visits to the emergency room or admission to hospital for treatment.

Children unfamiliar with safe behaviour around dogs can easily enter or create a situation where an otherwise “friendly” animal may bite (i.e. by approaching a dog that is eating, hugging a dog, taking away a dog’s toys or treats, etc.). If dog bite prevention and simple safety rules are taught early and often many dog bite will be avoided.

Be Dog Smart provides valuable information for parents, educators, and children, and teaches everyone how to handle dog encounters with greater safety and confidence.

Making Friends with Dogs

Pre-Kindergarten

Guide your students through a fun and interactive story time while teaching them all about how to meet dogs safely.

Download the complete lesson here.

What a Dog Needs

Kindergarten – Grade 6

Reinforce for your students that pets depend on people to care for them and that being responsible includes taking care of those who depend on us. Teaching children kindness, respect, and responsibility for pets, and all animals, is an invaluable lesson that will encourage students to grow into empathetic adults who care about animals and each other.

Download the complete lesson here.

Be Dog Smart

Kindergarten – Grade 6

Teach your students how to Be Dog Smart and learn the safest ways to communicate with dogs so that they will be able to handle animal encounters confidently and without harm. Students will learn how to meet dogs safely and will be given the tools to know how to respond if they encounter a stray animal.

Download the complete lesson here.

Do You Speak Dog?

Kindergarten – Grade 6

Dogs do not communicate in the same way as people – they cannot tell us with words when they are uncomfortable, upset, or feeling ill. Instead, dogs use their bodies, faces, and the noises they make to tell us how they are feeling. Teach students to understand how dogs use their bodies to communicate with people, and to recognize these signals in order to be safe around dogs.

Download the complete lesson here.

Educators can also borrow a Be Dog Smart resource kit with everything they need to teach students safe behaviour around dogs. Each kit includes:

• Be Dog Smart printed lesson plans to help teach your students responsible pet care, safety around dogs and dog body language
• Large 11 x 17 inch display boards for each lesson
• One stuffed Be Dog Smart mascot dog to keep in your classroom
• Full color Be Dog Smart information sheets for each student
• One give away item for each student to take home

Book a Resource Kit

For more information about Be Dog Smart, please email eduation@reginahumane.ca or call (306) 543-6363, ext. 224.

To download educational pamphlets, information sheets and posters, visit www.rqhealth.ca/bedogsmart.