By MiskaMoo
a.k.a. Miska

Dogs are great friends and fun to be around, and most dogs are really nice, but not all dogs are nice all the time. Dogs can get grumpy or be tired and sometimes they will bite to tell you they want to be left alone. They may bite to protect puppies. Sometimes a dog will bite out of fear if you scare it. Not every dog in the world will bite, but there are enough of them who do that you need to know how to protect yourself, and your brothers, sisters, and friends. Here are some rules to follow with dogs:

Never approach a dog you don't know.

The dog may have had a bad day, or may be afraid of strange humans, or it may be protecting puppies or food that you don't know about. It's best to leave strange dogs alone.

Never tease or throw things at a dog.

It may be fun to get the dog to bark or run, but the dog does not like it. Think how you would feel if someone came up and threw stones at you.

Never run at or near a dog.

The dog may chase you and if you fall or it catches you it may bite. Even if the dog is playing, it may forget that it is bigger than you and accidentally hurt you.

If you are approached by a strange dog, back away SLOWLY.

Don't stare at the dog, but move away calmly, watching to see what it is doing. Stay as quiet as you can. If you are knocked down or fall, roll up into a ball and put your hands across your head and neck. Protect your face and lie still. The dog will decide you are boring and move away. When he moves away, get up QUIETLY and walk away as calmly as you can.

Most of my canine relatives are friendly and like human companionship. Hopefully, you should never have to worry about having any problems with dogs. But remember, just like some people are grumpy, some dogs are grumpy too. There is always going to be that one dog who is either just a grouch or maybe having a bad day. So enjoy my relatives but be careful! MiskaMoo does not want anybody to get hurt.