Safety Around Children & Dogs Policy

Part of the Hope4Paws UK & Spain Adoption Agreement

At Hope4Paws UK & Spain, the safety and welfare of both dogs and families is of the highest importance. Children and dogs can form wonderful, lifelong bonds, but it is essential that adopters understand the responsibilities always involved and take appropriate precautions.

Rescue dogs, regardless of their temperament assessments, may behave differently in a new environment or when exposed to unfamiliar situations. Likewise, children may unintentionally behave in ways that make a dog feel uncomfortable, frightened, or overwhelmed.

This policy outlines the risks, safety measures, and responsibilities expected of every adopter to help ensure a safe and positive relationship between children and dogs.

Understanding the Risks

Children are particularly vulnerable around dogs due to their size, behaviour, natural curiosity, and limited ability to recognise canine body language and warning signals.

Whilst dogs and children can develop wonderful relationships, all interactions carry an element of risk and must be carefully managed.

Potential risks include, but are not limited to:

Physical Injury

Dog bites can cause serious injury. In rare but severe cases, bites to the neck or head can result in life-threatening injuries due to damage to major blood vessels or vital structures.

Face and Head Injuries

Children are statistically more likely to suffer bites to the face, head, and neck because they are often at a similar height to dogs and may naturally move closer to a dog's personal space.

These injuries can be particularly serious and may require emergency medical treatment.

Additional Health and Safety Risks

Children may also be injured or harmed through:

• Being knocked over by a dog
• Falls caused by running or playing with a dog
• Choking on dog toys, treats, or chews
• Allergic reactions to dogs
• Scratches from paws or claws
• Accidental suffocation where a dog lies too close to a sleeping baby or young child

For these reasons, adopters must exercise extreme caution whenever children and dogs share the same environment.

1. No Guarantees Can Be Given

Whilst Hope4Paws UK & Spain carefully assesses each dog using the information available at the time, no rescue organisation can guarantee how a dog will behave in every circumstance.

Behaviour may change due to:

• Moving into a new home
• Stress associated with travel and relocation
• New routines and environments
• Different family dynamics
• Interactions with children
• Illness, injury, fear, or anxiety

For this reason, adopters must never assume that a dog is completely "child-proof" or incapable of reacting if frightened, startled, uncomfortable, or in pain.

2. Constant Adult Supervision

Children and dogs should never be left unsupervised together, regardless of:

• The child's age
• The dog's breed
• The dog's previous behaviour
• The length of time the dog has been in the home

An adult must always be present and actively supervising interactions.

Supervision means paying full attention to both the child and the dog and being able to intervene immediately if necessary.

Even the calmest and most reliable dog may react unexpectedly if frightened, startled, uncomfortable, unwell, or stressed.

3. Teaching Children to Respect Dogs

Children should be taught how to interact appropriately with dogs.

Children should not:

• Pull ears, tails, or fur
• Climb on, sit on, or ride dogs
• Disturb dogs while eating
• Disturb dogs while sleeping
• Take toys, food, or chews away from dogs
• Hug dogs tightly or restrain them
• Corner or chase dogs
• Shout directly at dogs or intentionally frighten them

Children should be encouraged to remain calm, gentle, and respectful around all animals.

4. Giving Dogs a Safe Space

Every dog should have access to a quiet area where they can rest without interruption.

This may include:

• A crate
• A bed in a quiet room
• A separate area behind a baby gate
• A designated safe space

Children must be taught that when a dog chooses to rest in its safe space, the dog should be left alone.

Dogs should always have the option to move away from interaction.

5. Understanding Warning Signs

Dogs often communicate discomfort before they react.

Adults should monitor for signs such as:

• Lip licking
• Yawning when not tired
• Turning the head away
• Moving away from interaction
• Freezing or becoming still
• Tucked tail
• Trembling or shaking
• Excessive panting
• Whale eye (showing the whites of the eyes)
• Growling
• Snapping

These warning signs should never be ignored or punished.

Instead, the interaction should be stopped immediately and the dog given space.

6. The 3-3-3 Rule and Settling In

Many rescue dogs require time to adjust to their new surroundings.

First 3 Days

Dogs may feel overwhelmed, anxious, confused, or withdrawn. They may sleep more than usual, eat less, or appear quiet and uncertain as they process a significant change in their lives.

First 3 Weeks

Dogs often begin to gain confidence and settle into a routine. Their true personality may start to emerge, and they may begin testing boundaries and forming stronger bonds with family members.

First 3 Months

Many dogs become more settled, comfortable, and secure within their new home. By this stage, they are often showing more consistent behaviour and adapting fully to family life.

Because behaviour can change throughout this adjustment period, additional caution should be exercised around children during the first few months following adoption.

7. Visitors and Other Children

Extra care should be taken when:

• Children visit the home
• The dog visits friends or relatives
• The dog attends public events
• The dog encounters unfamiliar children

Children who are unfamiliar with dogs may not understand appropriate boundaries, increasing the risk of accidental incidents.

The adopter remains responsible for managing all interactions.

8. Training and Ongoing Management

Adopters are responsible for:

• Providing appropriate training
• Teaching children safe behaviour around dogs
• Managing interactions responsibly
• Seeking professional behavioural support where required

If concerns arise regarding a dog's behaviour around children, Hope4Paws UK & Spain should be contacted immediately for guidance.

Professional training or behavioural support may be recommended.

9. Adopter Responsibility and Liability

By adopting a dog from Hope4Paws UK & Spain, adopters acknowledge and accept that:

• Dogs are animals and can react unpredictably.
• No guarantee has been provided regarding behaviour around children.
• Adult supervision is always required.
• The adopter is responsible for managing interactions between children and dogs.
• The adopter is responsible for seeking appropriate behavioural support where necessary.
• All interactions between children and dogs carry inherent risks.

Hope4Paws UK & Spain provides behavioural information and assessments in good faith based upon observations available at the time of adoption. However, these assessments are conducted in different environments and cannot guarantee future behaviour within a new home, particularly around children.

Hope4Paws UK & Spain shall not be held liable for any injury, accident, incident, damage, or loss involving an adopted dog after placement.

The adopter accepts full responsibility for implementing appropriate safety measures within their home and for supervising all interactions between children and dogs.

Policy Acknowledgement

This Safety Around Children & Dogs Policy forms part of the Hope4Paws UK & Spain Adoption Agreement.

By signing the Adoption Agreement, adopters confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with the requirements and responsibilities outlined within this policy.