According to the American Humane Association, every year 3.5 million kids suffer from dog bite injuries.

The Association has launched a new dog bite safety program for kids called “American Humane KIDS: Kids Interacting with Dogs Safely™.” The program, according to Jane Greco Deming, head of education for American Humane, is aimed at kids aged four to seven.

Many of the association’s current safety programs are geared toward kids over age eight, but the younger ones are more likely to sustain a severe dog bite injury to the head, neck or face, Deming explained.

The KIDS program will not use scare tactics on kids, but will instead teach them to be sensitive to dogs’ feelings in certain situations. According to American Humane, the curriculum will result in fewer dog bites, decreased medical expenses and fewer personal injury lawsuits.

The association also hopes that fewer dogs will be sent to shelters and euthanized as a result, because kids won’t unknowingly scare dogs and cause bites.

This program seems like a great idea. It meets national education standards, and implemented correctly, it should have a positive effect on America’s dogs and children. However, there are still dangerous dogs out there that will cause problems no matter how carefully kids or parents act.