A DOG trainer and behaviourist from Dorset has given advice on how keep you and your children safe with your family pet.

Rachel Hayball from Beaminster visits schools to talk to kids and educate them about how to behave around dogs.

To coincide with National Dog Bite Prevention Week, she has talked about the safest way to spend time with your hound.

According to official figures, the number of hospital admissions for dog bites has risen by 76 per cent since 2005 to 7,227 in 2015, a figure which unfortunately includes a number of deaths.

Mrs Hayball said: “I want to stress that many dogs that bite are not dangerous dogs, but they are misunderstood and have often been put into a position that they should not have been, and this is why it is so important to educate people, so that people do not accidentally put their dogs and children in this position.

“Dogs should not be feared, but they should be understood.

“Every dog owner, every parent and every child needs to be aware of how to behave around dogs, and should know what to do and what not to do.

“If you go on social media you will see lots of ‘cute’ photos of children sat on dogs, dressing dogs up, laying on their beds etc.

“These photos make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, as often the dogs body language shows that the dog is very unhappy, and has the potential to react. These photos are not cute, they are scary.”

Mrs Hayball cites 10 tips given by animal welfare charity Dogs Trust.

These include: being wary of disturbing eating or sleeping dogs, never teasing or hugging and kissing them, only approaching dogs when their owner is present and stroking them when they say you can and moving calmly and quietly around any dog.

More information about dog behaviours for people to keep an eye on when their kids are around dogs can be found on our website.

Mrs Hayball added: “If you ever have any concerns about your dogs behaviour then it is important to contact a trainer or behaviourist, like myself who uses force free positive training methods.”

“You can contact me or INTODogs intodogs.org/ or the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers imdt.uk.com/ for recommendations of trainers and behaviourists in your area.

“If you would like to book a talk for your school or youth group then please contact me at lifeskillsdogtraining@gmail.com.”

The charity Dogs Trust aims to bring about an end to what it calls ‘unnecessary destruction’ of dogs, through educating owners on canine behaviour and health.

Visit www.dogstrust.org.uk for more information.