Puppies and children just seem to go hand-in-hand. But because children make up 60 percent of all dog bite victims, it is important for parents and other adults to teach safety around dogs as well as create a safe environment.

A recent study conducted at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas found that children less than 3 years of age were most likely to be bitten.

“They think the dog is a sibling or a toy,” says Dr. Thomas Abramo, an emergency medicine physician on the medical staff at Children’s and sponsor of the study. Dr. Abramo says children often are attacked because they have entered the dog’s “space,” for instance when the dog is eating. At the same time, dogs are more likely to view small children — just because of their size — more like a playmate than as a human.

The study found that chows, Rottweilers, pit bulls and German shepherds were among breeds most likely to bite.

The good news is that most dog bites are preventable through public education and responsible dog ownership. In many cases, dogs have not been properly socialized to other people, have not been supervised or safely confined or receive little attention, according to the Humane Animal Welfare Society.

If you are in a situation in which a child has been bitten by a dog, be sure to wash the wounds with soap and water and seek professional medical advice to evaluate the risk of rabies or other infections. Call 911 if a paramedic is required.

• Supervise your children around dogs, especially when your dog or child or anyone is eating. Children younger than 5 years should never be left alone with a dog.
• Educate your children about dog safety and caution. Don’t pet stray or unknown dogs, don’t climb fences into places where dogs are and don’t tease dogs. Approach all dogs with caution, even the family pet.
• Be a responsible pet owner by supervising your dog and properly restraining your pet, especially around children.