The VEC visited the Merseyside Police Training Academy to attend their Child Dog Safety Policy Workshop, where we supported their teams in engaging with DAVE (Dog Assisted Virtual Environment), a valuable digital tool for improving education, understanding and awareness around canines for reducing the number of attacks.
The BBC states that the Freedom of Information requests showed police forces recorded 30,539 offences of a dog injuring a person or guide dog in 2023 - which is up from 25,291 in 2022.
Immersing themselves into the virtual environment, as the user approaches the dog, there are subtle signs that the dog begins to feel less comfortable, signalled by a range of different movements and signs as the canine body language becomes more aggressive. It is so important for us to become more aware of these signs, as this greater understanding can help reduce the number of dog-related attacks, improving the safety of humans and dogs.
Incorporating a virtual environment into this learning process can enhance safety by eliminating the need for physical dogs in demonstrations. Participants can practice multiple times to enhance their comprehension and apply this knowledge to make informed decisions in the future.
University of Liverpool | Dogs Trust | Merseyside Police
Looks like a great event!