Dog Safety

I teach a class for kids 5-9 most years about dogs. The class started out with the goal of simply getting kids to think of their dog at home as being more than just part of the furniture and landscaping. Over the years this basic goal has remained but the class has expanded to include dog safety, simple behaviorism, basic clicker training, and introduction to a variety of working dogs.

I was delighted when a friend shared this adorable video with me, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Z9RRjiQMA. This little song was perfect for class. In fact I took the liberty of writing many more verses that we learned in class.

 I Speak Doggy tune of London Bridge is Falling Down

What dogs like I understand,

understand,

understand,

what dogs like I understand

‘cause I speak doggy

I hug friends I don’t hug dogs,

don’t hug dogs,

don’t hug dogs

I hug friends I don’t hug dogs

‘cause I speak doggy

I pet with one hand collar to tail,

collar to tail,

collar to tail,

I pet with one hand collar to tail

‘cause I speak doggy

When he eats I walk away,

walk away,

walk away

when he eats I walk away

‘cause I speak doggy

When he sleeps I walk away,

walk away,

walk away,

when he sleeps I walk away

‘cause I speak doggy

If he jumps I freeze like this

freeze like this,

freeze like this

If he jumps I freeze like this

‘cause I speak doggy

If he’s rough I’ll be a rock,

be a rock,

be a rock,

if he’s rough I’ll be a rock

‘cause I speak doggy

I will never stare at him,

stare at him,

stare at him,

I will never stare at him

‘cause I speak doggy

With a dog I will not shriek,

will not shriek,

will not shriek,

with a dog I will not shriek

‘cause I speak doggy

I will ask before I greet,

before I greet,

before I greet,

I will ask before I greet

‘cause I speak doggy

To greet a dog I’ll give my hand,

give my hand,

give my hand,

to greet a dog I’ll give my hand

‘cause I speak doggy

A wagging tail, can tell me stuff,

tell me stuff,

tell me stuff,

a wagging tail can tell me stuff

‘cause I speak doggy

A calm relaxed dog wags like this,

wags like this,

wags like this

a calm relaxed dog wags like this

if I speak doggy

A hyper dog will wag like this,

wag like this,

wag like this

a hyper dog will wag like this

if I speak doggy

  

Greet the calm dog this I know,

this I know,

this I know,

greet the calm dog this I know

‘cause I speak doggy

If he’s hyper I’ll let him go,

let him go,

let him go,

if he’s hyper I’ll let him go

‘cause I speak doggy.

If he warns I’ll walk away,

walk away,

walk away,

slowly I will walk away

‘cause I speak doggy.

Be respectful to the dog,

to the dog,

to the dog

be respectful to the dog

‘cause NOW you speak doggy!

I love the idea of setting good dog information to familiar childhood tunes. They are fun, easy to remember, and just maybe it will make the life with my fearful Finna a little safer.