Dog Bite Prevention Week
This week is Dog Bite Prevention Week. Dog bites pose a serious threat to children and adults alike. There are over 85 million dogs in the US and 38% of homes have at least one dog as a survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association calculates. It is estimated there are over 4.5 million dog bites in the US each year. Nearly 800,000 are serious enough to require medical attention according to the CDC.
Children are the most common victims of dog bites and, contrary to many beliefs, are often bitten while interacting with familiar dogs during everyday activities. Any dog can bite, young or old, big or small, male or female. Remember, even the sweetest, most cuddly dog can bite when provoked. The breed of dog doesn’t matter either.
You can help protect your child from dog bites by discussing with him the appropriate way to behave around dogs. We offer the following tips:
Children should not approach, touch or play with any dog who is sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or bone, or caring for puppies. Animals are more likely to bite if they’re startled, frightened or caring for young.
Children should never approach a barking, growling or scared dog.
Children should not pet unfamiliar dogs without asking permission from the dog’s guardian first. If the guardian says it is okay, the child should first let the dog sniff his closed hand. Then taking care to avoid petting the dog on the top of the head, he can pet the dog’s shoulders or chest.
Children should not try to pet dogs who are behind a fence or in a car. Dogs often protect their home or space.
If a child sees a dog off-leash outside, he should not approach the dog and should tell an adult immediately.
If a loose dog comes near a child, he should not run or scream. Instead, he should avoid eye contact with the dog and stand very still, like a tree, until the animal moves away. Once the dog loses interest, the child can slowly back away.
If a child falls down or is knocked to the ground by a dog, he should curl up in a ball with his knees tucked into his stomach, and fingers interlocked behind his neck to protect his neck and ears. If a child stays still and quiet like this, the dog will most likely just sniff him and then go away.
Dogs bite for a variety of reasons. Most dog bites are a reaction to something around them. Dogs may bite when they aren’t feeling well, are injured, or sore, and just want to be left alone. Dogs may bite when they perceive a threat to them, their offspring, or their territory. Dogs are protective of their food, their toys, and their people. Dogs may bite when they are afraid and stressed due to new surroundings, people, or changes to their routine.
When it comes to preventing dog bites, there are several steps you can take:
Do:
Ask the owner for permission before petting a dog
Slowly raise your hand for the dog to smell
Let the dog come to you
Stay calm and move slowly
Give the dog plenty of space and time to adjust to you
Pay attention to body language (eyes, tail, ears) that communicates fear/stress
Do not:
Approach an unknown dog or dog without an owner
Approach a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for her puppies
Reach through or over a fence to pet a dog
Poke, hit, tease, push or pull on a dog to play
Chase a dog or run and scream from a dog
Leave an infant or small child alone with a dog
For dog owners, it is your responsibility to prevent your dog from biting someone.
Proper socialization is key to making sure your dog is comfortable in different situations. By introducing your dog to people and other animals while it's a puppy, it feels more comfortable in different situations as it gets older. It's also important to use a leash in public to make sure that you are able to control your dog.
Well-socialized dogs make enjoyable, trustworthy companions. Undersocialized dogs are a risk to their owners and to others because they can become frightened by everyday things—which means they are more likely to aggress or bite. Socializing is the opposite of isolating. It’s important for puppies to meet, greet and enjoy a variety of people, animals, places and things. Done properly, socializing helps puppies feel comfortable and friendly in various situations, rather than uncomfortable and potentially aggressive. The main rule for effective socializing is to let your dog progress at her own pace and never force her to be around someone or something when she’s clearly fearful or uncomfortable.
Reading a dog's body language also can be helpful.
Just like people, dogs rely on body gestures, postures and vocalizations to express themselves and communicate. While we can't always read a dog's body language accurately, it can give us helpful clues as to whether a dog is feeling stressed, frightened, or threatened.
Don’t wait for a serious accident to happen. The first time your dog shows aggressive behavior toward anybody, even if no injury occurs, seek professional help from a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), a veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), or a qualified Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT). Here’s an article, Finding Professional Behavior Help, for information about finding an expert in your area. Your animal shelter may also offer or be able to refer you to helpful services.
The bottom line is we love our furry best friends and want the best for them and the people they come in contact with. Be responsible as an owner; be educated as an observer; and always err on the side of caution.
