Common factors in dog attacks upon children

The most serious attacks on children often have common factors -- fact patterns that repeat themselves. Violating any of the rules given in the section called For Older Kids: Rules to Learn and Follow (below) may cause accidents. Additionally, there are common fact patterns that have been associated with serious attacks. Learn them and teach your children to beware of them. Here they are:

• There is more than one dog.
• The dog is in the backyard of a neighbor.
• No adult is supervising the dog.
• The dog is mid-sized or larger.
• The dog is normally kept on a chain or rope.