1. Hi I’m [your name] – I am a [your occupation, credentials etc]
Hi I’m [your name] – I am a [your occupation, credentials etc]. Today I am going to give you some tools to keep you safe around dogs. I would love to answer any questions that you have – so keep them in your heads and be sure to ask me at the end.

2. But where will you keep these tools. In your toolbox – Where is it
But where will you keep these tools? In your toolbox – Where is it? – in your head. Shout it out…where is your toolbox? [kids yell – in my head]
OK – let’s start filling up that toolbox!

3. Tool #1 – Your Body
Your body is the first and most important tool.
Use it to Be a Tree - fold branches, watch roots grow, count in your head to the highest number you know, over and over again until help comes, or the dog goes away.
Trees are still, trees are quiet, trees are boring to dogs.
[Demonstrate the tree]
Be a Tree if dog is… Too frisky
Scaring you
A strange dog
Sometimes a strange dog might appear during the presentation. Whenever you see this dog during the presentation – Be a Tree – practice now.
[click on the screen to get the dog to appear and again to make it disappear]

4. Here is a video that shows you how to be a tree
Here is a video that shows you how to be a tree. Notice that whenever the kids are still, the dog ignores them. Even when the dog tries to play with the girl, she stays still like a tree and the dog goes away.
[Click to play video]

5. Another way to use your body is to be a rock if a dog knocks you down, or a dog scares you while you are already playing on the ground. Curl up on your tummy with your hands on the back of your neck and wait quietly for the dog to go away.

6. Tool #2 – eyes
Use your eyes to look a dog over to see if he is safe to approach – we are not going to stare into his eyes because dogs don’t like this – some dogs might even bite someone because they stared – just look him over quickly.
Now let’s use our eyes to take a look at some dogs –

7. Does this look like a nice dog?
Who would want to pet this dog? [ask for a show of hands]
[click to have the next photo appear]
But wait a minute! What about this dog – does he look like a nice dog?
Who would rather pet the dog on the right? [ask for a show of hands]
This is the same dog in both these pictures!
On the left Blucher has…
Ears forward
Mouth Closed
Looks a bit worried
Blucher is very interested in something – he is making a decision and he may decide he doesn’t want to meet you.
Leave a dog alone if he is making a decision.
On the right see him panting – he looks like a happy dog
He is wagging his tail
Blucher wants to meet you
Can everyone show me how to pant like a happy dog? [kids to pant]
Now everyone show me a snarly dog! [kids to snarl and growl]

8. B A Which of these dogs would you want to pet - Dog A or Dog B?
[encourage them to shout it out]
Dog A …
Mouth closed
Leaning forward. He may be getting ready to come forward.
Tail way up in the air
Dog B is…
Panting
Sitting quietly
Happy dog – wants to meet you
Everyone show me a happy dog [all kids pant]. Now a snarly dog [all kids snarl]. Now a happy dog [all pant]
If the dog seems like a safe dog it’s time to use the next tool…

9. Tool #3 – Mouth
Use it to…
Ask parent for permission
If your parent is not there to ask – then stay away – do not talk to strangers – even if the have a cute puppy or they have lost their puppy and are looking for it. A stranger with a dog is still a stranger. Do we talk to strangers?” – [all yell no] – [ask for it louder].

10. ? ? Ask your parent for permission Ask the dog handler for permission
If your parent and dog handler say OK – then there is another way to use your mouth. You can say to the dog handler “please can you ask your dog to sit” – if you are shy – ask your parent to ask. This is a good test that kids can use to see if the dog handler has proper control over the dog. If the dog will not listen to his handler, then you don’t want to pet that dog. If the dog sits and he still looks happy, then you can go on to the next tool.

11. Tool #4 – Fist
Stand sideways to the dog and show your fist to dog to let him sniff to say hello. Let him reach his nose out to you instead of sticking your hand into his face.
Dogs like to get to know you by sniffing.
If he sniffs and still seems friendly and wagging his tail – you can pet him. Pet on the side of neck – dogs enjoy this – but there are some things that dogs don’t like.
We are going to talk about some things that dogs don’t like and how they tell us when they are uncomfortable.
If you approach or start to pet a dog and he stiffens up and stops panting then it’s better to leave him alone.

12. Who is enjoying this hug. Does Clipper look happy
Who is enjoying this hug? Does Clipper look happy? [get them to shout out the answer]
The girl is enjoying the hug, the dog is not.
[click to get the arrows to appear to point out the mouth and the eye]
Half moon eye – if a dog displays a half moon of white in his eye – this means he is really uncomfortable – wants to be left alone
Mouth closed
Head drooped
Clipper is not happy
Dogs do not like hugs and kisses!
Repeat after me.. “dogs do not like hugs and kisses” again – louder “dogs do not like hugs and kisses”, even louder “dogs do not like hugs and kisses”. Do dogs like hugs and kisses? [kids yell – NO!]

13. Dogs have other ways of showing that they are uncomfortable
Dogs have other ways of showing that they are uncomfortable. They sometimes yawn when they are not tired. Clipper is yawning because he doesn’t want to be sent off the bed. This girl should leave him alone if he yawns when she tries to pet him.
If a dog yawns while you are near him or petting or playing with him, then this means he has had enough and he wants to be left alone.

14. Blucher is licking his chops, but he is not hungry and he has not just eaten. This is another way dogs have of telling us they are uncomfortable.
If a dog licks his chops while you are near him or petting or playing with him, then this means he has had enough and he wants to be left alone

15. Here is a very cute dog.
[click to get the arrow to appear to point to the lifted paw]
The handler says you can pet this dog, but she lifts her paw when you go near her.
She is saying “please leave me alone”
Lifting a front paw is another way dogs have of telling us that they are uncomfortable and want to be left alone.

16. [click to make arrows appear to indicate each key point]
So – we would not use the fist tool to say hello to a dog if the dog closes his mouth, shows us the half moon eye, yawns, licks his chops or lifts up a paw when we go up to meet him.
You don’t want to pet a dog that is telling you to “please leave me alone” – use another tool…

17. Tool #5 – Legs
Use your legs to walk away from a dangerous situation. Any dog that is telling you with his body language that he does not like what you are doing, or wants to be left alone is a dangerous dog. Even your own dog may tolerate things he doesn’t like for a long time, and then one day decide not to put up with it anymore – and may bite.
Walk away from danger when the dog can’t follow…
Tied up
In a crate
Behind a fence
In a car
Other times to walk away…
Dog on the bed
Dog on furniture
Dog sleeping
Dog on special resting place
Dog with puppies
Dog with food, bone or toys

18. Tool Recap:
Let’s go over the tools again quickly…
Your body to be a tree
Your eyes to look the dog over
Your mouth to ask for permission or help
Your fist for the dog to sniff
Your legs to walk away from danger when the dog can’t follow

19. Which tools would you use with this dog?
Eyes to look him over
Legs to walk away (because he can’t follow)
Clues:
Mouth closed
Ears forward
Body leaning forward
Tail up in the air
Leash tight

20. Which tools would you use with this dog?
Eyes
Mouth – permission – parent and handler; handler to ask dog to sit
Fist
Clues:
Panting
Sitting
Go on to the spinner part of the presentation now

21. This is the end of the powerpoint part of the presentation
This is the end of the powerpoint part of the presentation. Now move on to the Simon Says and Role Playing activities described on the Toolbox and Simon Says cards. These are included in the teacher kit and also provided as files with the powerpoint download.