With research revealing 1,200 Queensland children each year present at a hospital emergency department due to a dog bite and 81 per cent of dog bites occur in the child’s home, RSPCA Queensland is launching the ‘Prevent-a-Bite’ program, focused on teaching kids the top tips needed when approaching dogs.

Designed to promote positive interaction between dogs and young children aged 3 – 7 the ‘Prevent-a-Bite' initiative brings the RSPCA's established school-based education program directly into family homes through an exciting collaboration between RSPCA and qualified teachers and popular children's entertainers, Pevan & Sarah. Known for their fun and educational music performances, Pevan & Sarah created the catchy ‘Wag Your Tail’ song which includes a memorable acronym using the letters of tail to teach children how to safely interact with dogs.

“Our goal was to translate vital safety information into a fun, engaging song that resonates with children. From reminding kids to touch dogs gently and avoid approaching them if they are sleeping or eating, we worked closely with RSPCA to refine the content and translate vital safety information into a fun, engaging song. ‘Wag Your Tail’ breaks down complex concepts into simpler, bite-sized pieces,” explained Sarah Kechayas of Pevan & Sarah.

Kirsty Nalvarte, Head of Animal Services at RSPCA Queensland, explained dog attacks usually occur due to fear on the dog’s part and educating parents and children on how to interact with dogs in a low-risk manner was critical.

“A successful human-animal bond doesn’t typically occur automatically. To effectively reduce the risk of dog bites in the home we need to change behaviour. The T.A.I.L acronym helps children understand how to approach a pet dog, so if kids remember any takeaway, the acronym will help them recall the four main points,” said Nalvarte.

The acronym covers the following four tips:

§  T: touch them gently, on their side is best

§  A: avoid touching if they’re eating or at rest

§  I: imagine how they’re feeling, are they happy, or are they scared?

§  L: love them with respect and show them that you care

“Every dog has the potential to bite, and it’s important for families to learn to understand their dog’s body language and recognise when they’re feeling frightened or uncomfortable. Hugging, kissing, sitting on dogs, pulling tails, and getting close to a dog’s food can all trigger dogs to react. It's important for children to learn from an early age how to interact safely and respectfully with dogs, whether at home or in public settings. The tips explained in ‘Wag Your Tail’ apply to any situation where kids might interact with a dog. Our aim is to educate and change behaviours,” said Nalvarte.

To officially launch the program, it made sense for little animal lovers to be involved and what better way than to have them learn and boogie at the same time! The prep students of Moorooka State School were visited by Pevan & Sarah on the morning of Tuesday, 15 October. After learning the ‘Wag Your Tail’ dance in the weeks prior, students had the chance to show off their learned routine to all attending.

‘Wag Your Tail’ and more information about the RSPCA QLD ‘Prevent-a-Bite’ program can be found here.