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Help Prevent Dog Bites Each year more than 4 million people are bitten by a dog. Many of these incidents are preventable, and we thought it would be helpful to list a few appropriate responses to particular situations you may come across. Share these with any children you have or know. 1. Don’t tease dogs behind fences. In fact, don’t tease dogs period—it’s cruel. 2. Don’t go near dogs chained up in yards. 3. Do not touch a dog when he or she is sleeping. Many of us remember the phrase “let sleeping dogs lie.” I remember when I was concerned about my 15-year-old Springer and I stroked him while he was sleeping and he leapt up, forgetting who I was or not being fully awake, and went into the hair standing up on the back of his neck, teeth bared, and growling warning that constitutes pre-attack mode! Quite a surprise for me! 4. Never stare into a dog's eyes. Yep, I did this one too many years ago, to a dog we rescued and he bit me right through my upper and lower lips! 5. Don’t approach or try to touch a dog roaming loose outside. If you know it’s a neighbor’s dog, you can coax him or her into your garage or fenced backyard with food and keep them there until you find your neighbor. Otherwise, call animal control. 6. Never run and scream if a loose dog approaches. Stand very still, and be very quiet if a dog approaches. Remember, don’t stare into the dog’s eyes! 7. Do not touch or play with a dog while he or she is eating. Even your own dog can get annoyed and snap by instinct. 8. Only pet a dog if you have received permission from the dog's owner. Then ask for the dog’s permission by letting him sniff your upturned closed hand. 9. Never get in the middle of a dog fight. Sometimes when strange dogs meet, even if you don’t spot the body language or eye contact posturing, one can challenge the other and the dominant or alpha dog may decide to aggressively put the other dog in his or her “place.” The canine pack mentality is all about who is first, and so on, in the pack’s pecking order and they will assert this immediately upon meeting--some more ferociously than others. You can, if one of the dogs is not loose, try to pull them in opposite directions, simultaneously using their name followed by “quit!” or whatever similar command you have taught your dog. It will do your dog no good if you need to be rushed to the hospital if there’s no one to tend to the dog. Since so many people pay no attention to leash laws, you may want to purchase one of those noise makers made for the purpose of driving loose dogs away from you and your dog and carry it with you on your walks. Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto:               |
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