| Popis: |
Dog attacks on children are a widespread problem, which can occur when parents fail to realise a potentially dangerous interaction between a dog and a child. The aim of the study was to evaluate dogs attacks to children in Czech households, the ability of parents to identify dangerous situations from several everyday child - dog interactions, determine whether the participants connected these situations to a particular breed of dog and whether participants intend to participate in the dog bite preventing program for them and their children. Data were presented via an online survey to parents of children no more than 6 years old. Data from 208 respondents were analysed using procedure GLIMMIX in SAS program, version 9.3 and Pearson's Chi-squared test in program "R". We recorded 19 dogs attacks on children and children always knew attacking dog. Parents were present and supervised 18 children when attacks happened. Three children had to receive medical help after being attacked by a dog and one developed a post-traumatic stress disorder - a phobia of dogs. Most participants would welcome educating programs about child - dog interactions, more often those who owned a dog (p < 0,05). The probability of risk assessment varied according to dog breed (p < 0.001) as well as to the depicted situation (p < 0,001). Results indicated that Labrador Retriever was considered the least likely of the three dogs to be involved in a dangerous dog - child interaction (with 49 % predicting a dangerous interaction), followed by Parson Russell Terrier (63.2 %) and American Pit Bull Terrier (65 %). Participants considered one particular dog-child interaction named 'touching a bowl' a dangerous interaction at a high rate (77.9 %) when compared with the other presented situations, which were assessed as dangerous at rates of 48.4 % to 56.5 %. The breed of dog seems to be an influential factor when assessing a potentially dangerous outcome from a dog - child interaction. Contrary to our hypothesis, interactions involving the small dog (Parson Russell Terrier) were rated more critically, similarly to those of the American Pit Bull Terrier. These results suggest that even popular family dog breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, should be treated with more caution. |
