Dog Bite Prevention

Did you know over four million people in the US are bitten by dogs each year? Most are under 13 years old!* Dog bites can be prevented by taking some simple precautions. The advice that follows covers every angle of dog bite prevention.

Puppies
Puppies play by nipping each other. They extend this to human fingers, toes, ears, and even noses. It is important to teach a puppy that nipping people is not acceptable. Start by imitating a puppy's reaction to a bite that hurts too much: yelp! If that doesn't work, gradually work your way up the reaction ladder from least to most severe. Say "No!" in a firm, strong voice. You can try shaking a can of coins. This startles most dogs. Or give the pup a "time-out" for about 3-5 minutes. Also, give the puppy something it is allowed to chew on like a toy or a bone. All dogs, even puppies, know the difference between fur, flesh, and a toy between their teeth.

It is also important to properly socialize your puppy during the period from 8 to 16 weeks of age. Science has shown that other creatures a dog socializes with during this age become "friends" to the dog. For example, sheep herding dogs are socialized with sheep as puppies. Have your puppy meet any kind of creature you want it to be friends with, especially humans of every age. Just be careful how your puppy is treated, since a traumatic experience can make the dog afraid for the rest of its life.

If you've missed that socialization period, don't despair. More than likely your dog can get along with children, adults, and other dogs. But it may take more time, attention, and effort to ensure your dog and others are safe.

Train your dog in basic obedience and practice often. Teach your dog not to be possessive of food, treats, and toys. Ask your trainer for socializing tips. If your dog is over 16 weeks of age, go slow! Gradually socialize your dog and take steps to ensure no harm comes to your dog, yourself, or others. Most importantly, if you realize your dog is not friendly towards other dogs, certain people, or other creatures, take steps to ensure your dog is never a threat to that creature.Continue to socialize your dog throughout its life. This will be rewarding for your dog and for others, and it will keep your dog's disposition favorable. The next part handles the other end of the relationship. It is even more important (and possibly easier) to teach people how to behave around dogs. Any person may love dogs or may be afraid of dogs, but proper education will ensure everyone knows how to prevent a dog bite. Much of the advice that follows is directed toward children, but adults can benefit, too.

To wake a sleeping dog, gently call its name a few feet away until it responds. Most dogs must be trained to not be possessive of food and toys. Until this happens, it is best for the adult to pick up the food dish, water dish, and toys only when the dog is not present. Basic obedience will help with any unwanted behavior and can help prevent dog bites. Make sure everyone in the family is familiar with the training and is comfortable giving the dog commands. If the dog learns it must obey people, there is less possibility of it biting a person.  Friendly Dogs Any dog that you know to be friendly, such as a neighbor's dog or a friend's dog, deserves special treatment, too. Here are some rules for handling these dogs. If you haven't met the dog, ask an adult if the dog is friendly. If an adult is not around, find an adult first or wait until an adult is available. If the dog is friendly, ask if you can pet the dog. Pet the dog only on the chest or on its back, gently. Do not pull on the dog's fur and do not press too hard on the dog. Remember the advice above for handling your family pet. Here are some other tips for handling a friendly dog:

If the dog is chewing something that may be harmful, tell the adult owner of the dog. Only the adult owner should attempt to take something from the dog's mouth, and only if the owner knows how to avoid injury. Again, basic obedience will help in this situation.

Strange Dogs
Any dog you don't know should be considered a strange dog, even if it seems friendly. A strange dog may be in a car in a parking lot, behind a fence in a yard, or loose! Follow this advice for any strange dog:

Dogs warn of an attack by staying still, staring, growling, bearing their teeth and barking. When a dog attacks it will move quickly. If you think the dog might attack you, here are some tips to protect yourself.

Running from the dog will trigger a prey instinct and is more likely to provoke an attack. If the dog does approach you, but does not attack, stand completely still, like a telephone pole, with your arms at your side, and your chin up a bit and your eyes looking upward. Let the dog sniff you. More than likely it will get bored and walk away. Then, move slowly away from the dog towards safety.

If the dog tries to attack you, do not run away. It will only encourage the attack and may cause more damage. Curl up like a ball on the ground. Make your hands into fists and cover your ears with your fists. Most likely the dog?s attack will subside. When you think it is safe, attempt to slowly move away from the dog towards safety.

When you see a loose dog, tell an adult who can call the local animal control authorities. Do not try to capture the dog yourself. A loose dog must be handled by professionals. If it is someone's pet, they will do everything they can to reunite the dog with its home.

* These statistics come from the Humane Society of the United States. See their webpage www.hsus.org, and their affiliate, National Association for Humane and Environment Education, www.nahee.org, for more bite prevention information.