Mary Allen
It’s a wonderful thing when children can grow up with dogs. However, it also means a great deal of responsibility for the parents, because according to dog bite statistics, the family dog injures the child in most biting accidents. “The Blue Dog” helps parents and children to better recognize and avoid risky situations. Now also available for download.
Everyday Life with Children and Dogs
If you are a dog owner and have small children, you will know this: Sometimes the dog and child both compete for the same toy, and sometimes your offspring decides spontaneously to use the four-legged friend as a riding animal. Sweet? Certainly not from the dog’s point of view. Depending on the temperament, he will eventually show the child more or less clear where the limit is.
Children under the age of 12 are not considered senior by dogs. If no adults are present, children can easily find themselves in dangerous situations.
As a parent, you should not leave your dog or child unattended. It is also your responsibility to teach children how to handle a dog correctly – “The Blue Dog” will help you here.
Who is the Blue Dog?
The Blue Dog stands for a transnational dog bite prevention project with the aim of preventing bite injuries in children between the ages of 3 and 6 years.
In an interactive computer story starring the Blue Dog, children learn with their parents how to handle their own dog safely. The accompanying booklet explains the individual scenes on 50 pages, gives valuable tips on how to behave towards your own dog, and provides scientific background knowledge.
Book and CD are the results of more than 5 years of development work in the interdisciplinary team of practicing veterinarians, pediatricians, ethologists, psychologists, educators, and employees of the Ghent Art Academy under the direction of Tiny de Kuester (chair) and Ray Butcher (President of the BLUE DOG TRUST).
Where do you get the Blue Dog?
The interactive CD and accompanying book for parents have just been relaunched. The book including CD is available for €9.80 and was published by DVG Service GmbH.
The interactive program can also be downloaded (access code on request) so that it can also be used in notebooks without a CD drive.
You can order the book including CD or download it from the German Veterinary Medical Society (DVG) by phone (0641-24466), fax (0641-25375), or online on the DVG webshop.