It's crucial to supervise kids around dogs because young children often don't understand dog body language and can unintentionally provoke a bite or scratch. Even the most gentle of dogs can react defensively when startled, scared or hurt. Supervision prevents injuries to both children and dogs by allowing adults to teach gentle interaction, set boundaries, and intervene if a dog shows signs of stress, protecting the child from bites, and the dog from being harmed or feeling threatened.