Preventing Dog Bites - Part One

Hey Everyone!

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week and as this is a subject that has recently become closer to my heart (or at least my upper calf) I thought I would post some tips here. Now, I have to admit when I had considered this topic prior to being bitten, I always thought dog bite prevention was about how you responded to an aggressive dog. I thought that people who got bit reacted with fear toward dogs or tried to run away. But now I believe that the truth is the dog bite prevention is really about people who own dogs training and handling their dogs in a responsible manner, because without that, there really is very little that you can do if a dog decides to bite you.

A few facts to start you off with:
According to to the CDC,
*4.5 million people are bitten every year
*1 in 5 of those bites is serious enough to require medical attention.
*In 2006 more than 30,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery due to dog bites.

According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association,
*About a dozen Americans die each year as the result of dog bites.
*Although certain breeds are depicted as being more likely to bite, there is no scientific evidence supporting this


The CDC reports that children under the age of nine are the most likely victims and that people with dogs in their homes increase their chance of being bitten, with homes with multiple dogs further increasing their risk. They also report that adult males are bitten at a higher rate than adult females. (Tell that to the dog that decided I tasted sweeter than Cary...) I think it's easy to see from these risk factors that MOST people are bitten by dogs they know, especially by their own dogs. Not exactly how you picture it, but the way it actually happens. So, how exactly can you prevent your dog from biting you, your family members, guests or even a stranger walking in front of your house? Well, there are no fool-proof methods, but here are some things you can do to reduce your risks:

*Before you bring a dog into your home, research the breed. Sometimes little, cute cuddly dogs seem like a great match for children, but that's not always the case. Breeds such as Dalmations gained fame in children's movie, but are actually not generally well suited to children. Cocker Spaniels tend to be cute, small and fluffy, but can also be very protective of "their" possesions and as a result snap at a child who wants "their" chair. Now, this doesn't mean that every Dalmation or Cocker is going to have these traits, but as a general rule, you want to consider the breed's known qualities before bringing the animal into your home.

*Spay or Neuter your dog. This reduces your dog's desire to roam, making it less likely to be outside of your yard, getting into situations with strangers and other dogs. As a general rule, spayed and neutered dogs are less likely to be involved in biting incidents.

*Socialize your dog. Socialize your dog early and often. Exposing it to as many situations and types of people as possible makes your dog less frightful, and a secure dog is less likely to bite than a frightened one.

*Train your dog. Every member of your family should be involved in training your dog. Not only does this teach your dog manners, but it asserts you and your family members as alpha to your dog. A dog that respects you as higher pack members is less likely to bite you and your family members because it will not challenge you for possesions and positions.

*DON'T teach aggressive play. Even as a puppy, biting of any kind should NOT be considered cute. Don't encourage your dog to fight with other dogs, don't "sic" your dogs on other people or animals in play. All of these encourage aggresive behavior, and for a dog, it's hard to tell the diffirence between play and real. Your dog should never be taught that aggression is an acceptable behavior.

*Keep your dog's vaccinations/liscenses up to date. In other words, be a responsible pet owner. Having your dogs vaccinations and liscenses up to date may not prevent your dog from biting, but it will help establish the health of your animal should it be involved in a biting incident. One of the few consolances I had when I was being bitten was that the dog clearly had a current rabies tag dangling from it's colalr. Small peace of mind, but one still.

*Use common sense. Don't isolate your dog, you got your dog to be a memeber of the family, so don't leave alone outside all the time. Dogs are pack animals and need attention, if you abondon him to your back yard, he's going to get out and wander until he finds acceptance and he may get in trouble along the way. Don't take your dog into a situation where you're unsure of how he'll react. For example, Hannah is fearful of loud noises, so I would never take her to the park on the 4th of July. Dogs bite our of fear. Instead, I leave her at home in her crate where she feels safe and secure while I enjoy the fireworks. If your dogs is overprotective of you when strnagers come to the door, put your dog in another room when the pizza delivery guy comes.
Short and long of this, KNOW YOUR DOG. You are the only one who knows how your dog will react to a situation and if you are ever in doubt, ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

So, these are some of the ways you can help prevent dog bites as a pet owner. Tomorrow I'll address how you can prevent dog bites if a dog threatens you.