Dog Bites Are Dangerous

Each year, over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the U.S. and more than 800,000 dogs are in serious need of medical attention according to the CDC. What is most troubling is that at least 400,000 of those bitten are children followed by senior citizens. Dog bite prevention starts with pet parents recognizing that every dog however sweet they have the potential to bite. Let’s talk about why dogs bite and how to help avoid dog bites.

Why do dogs bite?

Dogs bite for many different reasons, but the most common reason is because they are stressed, fearful or even excited. They can also bite because they are protecting something such as puppies, food, toys or person. When dogs are hurting due to injury or illness, they can also bite. What is important to recognize is that even sweet wonderful dogs can bite expectantly in any given situation.

Only large dogs bite, right?

False! Regardless of the breed, size, sex, age, however sweet and cuddly they are can bite. It is important to understand that it is the individual dog’s demeanor, behavior and situation that determines if they will bite.

What can I do to help prevent dog bites?

Socialization is important to help prevent dog bites. It is important to socialize them at an early age with different people, places and situations so they feel comfortable as they get older. Responsible pet ownership is paramount in dog bite prevention. It is the responsibility of pet parents to select the appropriate dog breed that is right for your family, proper training, healthy exercise, and regular veterinary care. If your dog shows any sign of aggression or tendencies to bite, seek advice from your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist. A veterinary behaviorist is a veterinarian who has a board certification in animal behavior.

Avoid high risk situations that may lead to a dog bite.

Educate yourself and your children on how to approach a dog and avoid contact with a dog in a high-risk situation. Below are some situations that can lead to a bite:

• Growling dogs – This is a warning that the dog may bite you, so don’t reach to pet a dog if it is growling.
• Avoiding, hiding from people – Fearful dogs may bite to protect themselves. Never go after a dog who is trying to avoid you. If a dog does not come when you call them, leave them alone.
• Eating or playing with a toy – Do not try to pet dogs while they are eating or playing with a toy. They may try to protect their property and bite.
• Mamma dogs with puppies – If your presence makes mamma anxious, do not touch the puppies. If she sees you as a threat to her puppies, she may bite.
• Sleeping dogs – Do not touch dogs while they are sleeping. You may startle them and cause them to bite.
• Petting dogs without owner’s permission – If a dog is with the owner, don’t pet the dog without permission. A dog may be protective of the owner and bite if it sees you as a threat.

Avoid dog bites by paying attention to body language.

• Growling, bearing teeth – This is the most obvious of warning signs, but some people may still ignore this and get bitten. Dogs show this behavior when they are highly uncomfortable with the situation around them and will most likely bite.
• Licking lips, avoiding eye contact – This is a sign that a dog is uncomfortable with the current situation. This may not necessarily cause a dog to bite, but may lead to one if the dog is unable to remove itself from the situation.
• Tail wagging – This can be very confusing to the owner. A dog that is about to bite can wag its tail. There are some subtle differences however. A happy dog that wags its tail moves its whole body also (happy jiggle). A dog who is about to bite will raise its tail high and rigid and can sway deliberately from side to side. Warning! This is not a happy tail, so don’t be fooled.
• Rigid body – A dog that feels threatened will have a rigid body posture. Their whole body may be tense and not move, or they may move very slowly and deliberately.
• Raised fur – Dog’s fur may stand along the neck and back. This means that the dog feels threatened and is trying to make themselves look bigger to the opponent.
• Making intense eye contact – When a dog feels threatened, they will not break eye contact. Even if their head and body may be moving, their eyes will remain fixed on the target.

As pet parents, let’s do everything that we can to prevent dog bites. Dog bites can cause serious and debilitating injuries to people and other pets. If your pet is showing signs that he will bite, don’t take it personally and say my pet never bites. Help your pets avoid situations which may lead to a dog bite and seek help from a professional. Don’t be in denial about your pet never biting because every dog has the potential to bite given a stressful situation.