Children may misinterpret growls as smiles

Researchers at the University of Lincoln found the majority of children under the age of seven do not see the warning signs when dogs are angry.

The team tracked the eye movements of children and found they tended to look only at a dog’s mouth, ignoring other signs of aggression that adults see, such as the changed position of ears.

The scientists concluded that children could be putting themselves at risk of being bitten by the family pet because they cannot read dogs’ body language.

To combat the risk, they joined vet Dr Tiny de Keuster to produce a DVD to help raise parents’ awareness, which was presented to the World Safety Conference in London yesterday.

Research leader Kerstin Meints said: “The child may not have a dog at home, but most youngsters will come into contact with one.

“While the DVD can’t guarantee the child will never get bitten, it will, hopefully, help reduce the chances.”

Surveys have shown that 43% of school children have been bitten, usually at home by a familiar dog. Some suffer serious injuries.

Holly Limbrick, four, of west London, was bitten by the Border Collie of a family friend as she tried to kiss the animal goodbye.

Her mother Claire said: “Now if we see big dogs, she asks whether they’re friendly which has never happened before.”

The DVD is being distributed to pet shops and schools.

（想试试自己的翻译水平吗？请点击文章右侧的“应用工具栏”贡献翻译稿吧！）

（相关中文报道——凤凰网）

　　据英国广播公司报道，统计显示，英国儿童中近一半人在成长过程中曾被狗咬，其中7岁以下的孩子危险最大。因此，教会孩子正确理解狗的身体语言，可以减少被狗咬的危险。
　　狗咬造成致命伤害，特别是涉及儿童时，都会引起英国媒体的格外关注，但这样的极端例子十分罕见。但即便是被狗咬了一口，也会给孩子留下身体的或精神上的伤疤。

　　最常见的判断错误

　　调查显示，孩子最常犯的一个判断错误是把狗呲牙“威胁”视作狗在“微笑”。
　　英国林肯大学日前推出了一套互动DVD影碟，教孩子如何读懂狗的身体语言，正确判断狗的意图。
　　研究人员发现，儿童“审视”狗时，注意力集中在狗的嘴和牙。5岁以下的儿童更容易往狗身上靠，以便近距离的看狗，这增加了儿童被狗咬住脸和脖子的危险。
　　这套叫做“蓝狗”的影碟中展示了狗可能感觉受到威胁、做出攻击性反应的典型情景，比如孩子的脚碰到狗爪子或把狗从沙发上推下去。

　　学会察言观色

　　观看影碟过程中，孩子们要做出判断选择，然后影碟会显示“安全”的和“不安全”举动之间的不同。负责此项研究的梅因茨博士说，即便是年幼的儿童也可以学会避免不安全的举动，比如亲吻熟睡中的狗。
　　她建议英国的小学和幼儿园应该考虑使用这套DVD。她说：“孩子也许在自己家里没有狗，但大多数儿童都会有与狗接触的时候。虽然它不能保证孩子免遭狗咬，但可以帮助减少被狗咬的危险。”