1. Always have the child ask the owner and you (the parent) before they approach or pet a strange dog
2. Teach and practice gentle contact with a friendly dog - make sure the child understands how to pet softly and avoid pulling on the dog or making loud noises or sudden movements
3. If the owner says anything uncertain about their dog such as "he is nervous", "she doesn't have much experience with kids", or "he is a puppy and can be wild" do not encourage your child to approach the dog or argue with the owner - they know the dog best, so no matter how good your child is with dogs or how crazy the dogs your child is used to are, allow the owner to make the choice and give your child something else to do
4. Respect that any dog owner is being gracious with their time when they stop and let your child interact with their dog - do not take advantage of this, a dog owner is not a babysitter
5. Teach children as they get older how to understand dog behavior - how to tell when dogs are angry, what to do when approached by an aggressive dog, and how to interact with dogs in ways that are enjoyable to everyone
