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Importance of education and prevention of child injury in contact with dog
CHLOPČÍKOVÁ, Marie
The dissertation entitled: "Importance of education and prevention of child injury in contact with dog" was written with the purpose to point out not only the current status of children's knowledge and experience in contact with the favourite pet - dog, but primarily to provide a new educational-preventive concept that should help to reduce the risk of incidence of negative experience (injuries, attacks) with dogs in child population. The goal of the dissertation was to improve the children's knowledge on responsible and safe approach to dogs. The theoretical part of the dissertation points out the comprehensive significance of the child-dog relation. The individual sections describe the essential influence of the dog on the mental, emotional and social development of the child, with emphasis on understanding the differences of human-animal communication and the related risks. At the same time, the dissertation outlines also the issue of injuries and conflict situations caused to the child by the dog due to lack of knowledge of basic rules of safe approach to the animal. Last but not least, it emphasizes the significance of primary prevention in the relevant issue. The results of the empirical part of the dissertation pointed out the most frequent causes and mechanisms (basic risk factors in child behaviour) of origination of conflict situation between children and dogs. Based on the alarming results of the first research stage, a new interactive educational-preventive program was created, based on zootherapy - canistherapy method, AAE (Animal Assisted Education) technique, cooperative teaching and situational learning. To assess the efficiency of the preventive activity, a feedback quantitative study was created; it showed improved knowledge on safe approach to dogs in elementary school pupils after having passed the preventive program. The success of the practical form of the preventive program in educational facilities was supported also by creation of educational material - workbook for children. The aid can be used not only as teaching material but particularly as a source of visually processed information and principles for conflict-free child-dog coexistence. The dissertation constitutes a serviceable material not only for lay public at educational level, but also for professional public from the perspective of use of canistherapy and prevention of child injuries.
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