The dangers of having a dog with young children

HE’S placid and mild-mannered and like another member of the family, but you should never leave your child alone with him.

According to the HSE, around half of all children will be bitten by a dog at some point, and the dog usually belongs either to the family or to a friend or neighbour. Boys aged five to nine years old are the most likely to get bitten.

Fiona Simpson, senior education officer for Dogs Trust, says the most effective way of ensuring your child doesn’t suffer a dog bite is never to leave them unsupervised with any dog. “Parents too easily leave children alone with dogs. The perception is ‘he’s the family pet — he’s grand with the kids’. But it’s still a dog we’re talking about.”