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Dog Bite Risk: An Assessment of Child Temperament and Child-Dog Interactions
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Dog Bite Risk: An Assessment of Child Temperament and Child-Dog Interactions

Aaron L. Davis, David C. Schwebel, Barbara A. Morrongiello, Julia Stewart and Melissa Bell
International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol.9(8), pp.3002-3013
08/01/2012
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph9083002
PMCID: PMC3447601
PMID: 23066411
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9083002View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Annually approximately 400,000 American children receive treatment for dog bites. Young children are at greatest risk and are frequently bitten following behavior that provokes familiar dogs. This study investigated the effects of child temperament on children's interaction with dogs. Eighty-eight children aged 3.5-6 years interacted with a live dog. Dog and child behaviors were assessed through observational coding. Four child temperament constructs-impulsivity, inhibitory control, approach and shyness-were assessed via the parent-report Children's Behavioral Questionnaire. Less shy children took greater risks with the dog, even after controlling for child and dog characteristics. No other temperament traits were associated with risk-taking with the dog. Based on these results, children's behavior with unfamiliar dogs may parallel behavior with other novel or uncertain situations. Implications for dog bite intervention programs include targeting at-risk children and merging child-and parent-oriented interventions with existing programs geared toward the physical environment and the dog.
 Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences & Ecology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Science & Technology

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