14/06/2026
Defra has updated its guidance regarding exempted dogs under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, including XL Bully dogs and Pit Bull Terriers.
➡️New Child Supervision Requirement
From 1 November 2026, it will become a legal requirement that a child under the age of 12 is not left in close contact with an exempted Section 1 dog in a private place (such as a home or garden) without adult supervision.
The issue is that many dog bites relating to children aren't random attacks. They are dogs known to that child. Usually in their own household or a known household. So this guidance is important to all child and dog interactions. Supervision, safety and respect should be central to what we are taught as we grow up and interact with dogs.
Just because a dog will tolerate a certain behaviour from children and adults, doesn't mean we shouldn't advocate for them.
Dogs don’t usually bite without warning — we just don’t always know how to listen.
Humans and especially children often show affection to dogs in very human ways — hugging, kissing, restraining, touching their faces.
But dogs don’t always experience these interactions as loving… and sometimes they find them stressful or frightening.
What the research shows:
Studies reviewing the most popular “cute” dog videos online found high levels of stress behaviours in dogs during play, hugging and petting interactions. These behaviours are often missed or misunderstood by humans, especially when dogs are trying to communicate discomfort in subtle ways.
When these signals go unnoticed, dogs may experience:
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Distress
• Confusion
And if communication continues to fail, this can damage the human–dog bond, compromise welfare, and increase the risk of defensive behaviour — including biting.
The knowledge gap is real, according to The (Now Royal) Kennel Club:
• 72% of owners believe they can read their dog’s body language
• Yet up to 9 in 10 cannot identify key signs of anxiety
Alarmingly:
• 88% didn’t know yawning can be an early sign of stress
• 82% didn’t recognise lip-licking
• 65% missed signs like wide eyes or staring
And importantly, relating to children learning about respectful interactions with their dogs, or others dogs, among dog-owning parents, many children are also not taught how to recognise stress signals, creating a dangerous knowledge gap.
Dog Bite Awareness:
➡️ Social media videos can look cute, but veterinary and behaviour professionals often see clear stress signals that are being misread
➡️ Dogs usually warn us many times before they bite — but the signs can be subtle
➡️ Every dog is different: some escalate quickly, others communicate discomfort for a long time before reacting
➡️ We often hear “the dog bit without warning” — but in many cases, the warning signs were there and simply not recognised
🗣️ The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) reminds us:
“Any dog can bite, regardless of how well you know them. Most bites occur in the owner’s home. Dogs do not want to bite — it is a last-resort response.”
✔️ Give dogs safe spaces
✔️ Provide exercise and mental stimulation
✔️ Supervise children closely
✔️ When a dog wants to be left alone — leave them alone
✔️ Don't interrupt a dog while sleeping or eating
Some common stress signals to watch for:
➡️ Lip licking
➡️ Yawning
➡️ Whale eye (showing the whites of the eyes)
➡️ Freezing
➡️ Turning away
➡️ Ears pinned back
➡️ Tense body
➡️ Panting
➡️ Crouching
➡️ Rolling onto the back
Learning to listen to dogs can save a relationship, prevent injury, and may even save a life — a child’s or a dog’s.
Citation: Elizabeth Ann Walsh, Lieve Lucia Meers, William Ellery Samuels, Dorien Boonen, Anita Claus, Carolina Duarte-Gan, Vicky Stevens, Laura Contalbrigo, Simona Normando, Human-dog communication: How body language and non-verbal cues are key to clarity in dog directed play, petting and hugging behaviour by humans, Applied Animal Behaviour Science
