Most dog bites preventable
The statistics are alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4.7 million Americans (or 2 percetn of the population) are bitten by dogs each year. One out of six of these bites requires medical attention, and more than half of these occur in children under the age 13. Among children bitten, three out of four are bitten by their own dog or by a dog known to them. Any dog can bite and inflict an injury that requires a trip to the emergency room. The majority of these bites are preventable if dog owners act responsibly and parents educate themselves and their children about how to avoid a bite.
No biting
What can dog owners do? Training and socializing your dog is the most important thing. A well-trained dog, accustomed to looking to humans for leadership and guidance will be easier to control. A well-socialized dog will be less afraid of new people and situations and thus less likely to react defensively. Spaying and neutering can reduce aggressive tendencies. Dogs should never be allowed to roam free on acreage for their own safety as well as for the safety of other animals and people in the area. Even a nice dog may behave differently when “packed up” with one or more other dogs. Always supervise your dog in new situations, especially with children. If your dog is trying to move away from a child or her ears and tail are down, she is afraid. Never force her to get closer to a child of whom she is afraid because she may bite to try to defend herself. Talk to your veterinarian about slowly desensitizing your dog to these situations, and don’t hesitate to remove your dog to a safe place if you have guests and cannot adequately supervise your pet.
What can parents do?
First, we need to educate ourselves about dog behavior and kid behavior at different life stages. Kids love dogs, and kids show affection by hugging and kissing. Most dogs do not like to be hugged and kissed. Some dogs feel threatened by these actions and will bite a child in the face. While many dogs don’t actively object, you might notice that they walk away at the first opportunity. Kids need to be taught to respect the dog’s space and not to pursue a dog that is trying to get away. For kids who are still too young to understand these rules, it’s up to us to demonstrate gentle behavior with the dog and separate the dog and child if necessary. Teach children to pet gently on the dog’s sides and not to put their face right in the dog’s face. Teach children to leave the dog alone when he is eating, chewing a toy or in his bed or kennel. A mother dog that always got along well with kids before may bite in defense of her pups. An adult should be supervising and should have leash control over the dog.
Strange dogs
What about the dogs your kids may encounter at a friend’s house or on the way to school? That’s where preparing the child in advance on how to handle a potentially dangerous situation pays off. If a friend’s parent gives permission to touch the family pet, teach kids to offer a closed fist for the dog to sniff before trying to pet the dog. Teach them about dog body language, and never try to pet a dog that is growling. When you are out walking or playing, practice with your kids what to do if a strange dog approaches them. Have them “be a tree.” Tell them to look away from the dog and stand still until it loses interest. They must not raise their arms, scream or start running because this could provoke an attack. In the event that a dog does attack, they should know to try to “feed” the dog a jacket or backpack, and to “be a log,” to protect themselves as much as possible.
Whether we are dog owners, parents or we just observe a potentially dangerous situation in our own neighborhood, we need to act. Even dog bites that don’t cause much physical injury can cause psychological trauma to a child, and ill will between neighbors and may require a basically nice dog to be destroyed. It’s in everyone’s best interest to be vigilant about preventing a potential tragedy.