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Many people view the perfect childhood as one that is shared with a canine companion. There is much a dog can teach us about ourselves and about life. The problem is that some parents do not properly educate their child before introducing them to a dog. The following 14 safety tips are a must-read for parents who want to avoid a potentially risky situation with their child and dogs.

1. Do Not Leave a Young Child Unattended with a Dog of Any Size

This is easily the biggest cause of dog-related child deaths. Parents think their friendly pup will watch over the baby or toddler then return to find a tragedy when the dog mistakes the little child for a toy or prey. Many terrible situations could have been avoided had mom or dad simply remained with the child while the dog was nearby. If a dog of any size has access to the area the child is in, then an adult should be there to supervise 100% of the time.