UNDERSTANDING DOG BITES

About 4.7 million people experienced a dog bite last year. Most bites that occur are from someone’s precious pet and not by strays! Also, many more kids are bitten each year than anyone else. Kids should be taught what manners are necessary around dogs, and small or young tykes should never be left alone with any animal.

Most people immediately think of postal carriers and other uniformed service workers when they think of people who are tortured by biting dogs. It is estimated, however, that for each postal carrier that is bit, just under a thousand children are too!

This is an informational article and not a course or directives detailing those actions that you should take. There are ten tips listed below for general information, but each person, animal, and conditions surrounding every situation are highly variable. The options listed here are those that may be of help to you. For further information contact your nearest Humane Society for educational classes in dog bite prevention.

If you look a bit closer at the situation, the incidents are pretty predictable and preventable. For instance, most children who are bit by dogs are bit by animals they know fairly well; these kids are generally under ten years of age.

Eighty percent of all dogs that engage in biting are also un-neutered males. Attacks usually occur in close proximity to the animal’s home, like in their yard, on the street in front of it, or in the alley next to their property. Also, many dogs are on leashes, chained up, fenced or indoors when the incidents occur!

What factors influence dog dog biting? Irresponsible pet ownership and lack of information on how to avoid incidents are the biggest contributors. What contributes to dog bites? And why should you care to control and take responsibility of your animal?

Preventing dog bites means that you should know that anything that has teeth can, and probably will bite. People are pretty careless around animals; many take liberties that they shouldn’t and as a result, they get bit. Many animals, especially un-neutered males, will be territorial and aggressive. What happens on their turf is very serious.

Animals will connect a person in a uniform to the experiences they have had with it. In many cases, the postal carrier arrives to deliver the mail and the dog will begin to bark. This territorial behavior is reinforced because the postal carrier then leaves. The dog gets rewarded by successfully driving away the intruder! Many times an animal will also react protectively at the movement toward the owner or approach. So, handing a package to the owner of an animal could be perceived as a threat.

When a dog is in a yard and restrained on a chain or by fencing, they can see and react to objects in view, but out of reach. This "barrier frustration" can contribute to escalated aggression because it triggers some territoriality, and sometimes predatory behavior. Animals chained up can also feel vulnerable and can become more protective of themselves and defensive because of it.

To make matter worse, the dog gets further frustrated since it often will be teased by children or other animals, which can cause the situation to escalate more. Triggers of this behavior can be fast moving vehicles, animals or children; the final result is usually seen in the dog barking or growling while fence running or fence fighting.

Usually those animals who are left alone get bored and frustrated. Problem animals are consistently lacking in training and behavior control, and are usually not neutered. This is the recipe for a potential delinquent dog.

Even if the animal has been kept indoors and given some schooling, many animals are not required to mind their owners and will push the limits. To make the situation worse, owners who have their animal out running loose, even if they are in their own front yard, are usually breaking the law. They do not seem to understand that they are responsible for their pet and the actions of it.

Most of the dog bite cases paid by insurance agencies will cost thousands of dollars to settle. Liability for veterinary medical bills, medical bills, plastic surgery, psychological therapy, and other related costs are just some of the burden owners will have when their dog bites someone. Say good-bye to your home, car, and other luxuries and hello to garnished wages, lost savings accounts and massive legal fees.

Misunderstanding dog behavior is another area that causes problems for people. Many still think that a dog that is wagging their tail is friendly --it ain’t necessarily so! Learning the signs of what an animal is telling you, through their movement and body language, is important. If you really don’t know what the animal is communicating to you, go for some professional help to learn!

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TEN TIPS TO HELP AVOID DOG BITES

1. Always ask permission before you approach any dog and owner --both on or off leash.
2. Don’t enter into a strange yard to go chasing after a ball or to check a meter.
3. Never leave kids alone with a dog. Always have supervision.
4. Don’t make quick moves around an animal.
5. Don’t reach out to pet a dog. Let the dog approach you if they want to.
6. Don’t lean forward over a dog to pet it.
7. Don’t look an aggressing animal in the eye.
8. Don’t tease any animal.
9. Always control your animal on a leash. If you are not sure of a situation, move back, the dog will have to move back with you.
10. If you have an animal that is hard to control, go to dog school and put your animal into a head halter device.