May 13, 2010
By Nancy E. Hassel of LIPetPlace

Did you know that May 13 – May 19, 2010 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week? This is an important topic for any dog owner or anyone working with dogs. Dog bites can be prevented, and dog owners should know some basics in order to prevent a bite.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) there are:

• About 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.
• Almost one in five of those who are bitten :a total of 885,000: require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries.
• In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.

The most common people inflicted by a dog bite are children, adult males and families with dogs in their house. To knowlegdeable dog trainers, handlers and pet sitters, dog bite prevention seems like an easy thing to avoid, but the every day or new dog owner should learn about warnings and signals a dog may give before they bite. Dog owners and parents should also learn ways to avoid a bite. To help you and your family, especially children avoid being bitten by any dog keep these tips in mind:

• Never leave a infant, toddler or child unattended with a dog. Even if it is your own family dog who you trust, a bite can occur. Sometimes that bite may be out of self-defense, i.e. baby pulls on a tail or ear, tries to take a toy or bone away from the dog, etc. Supervision is best.
• Teach your children not to go up to strange or stray dogs, and if they do see a dog loose, to not run from it. Kids should remain still, or “make like a tree.” Running and screaming from a dog can cause a dogs prey drive to kick-in, or start a game of chase, and the dog can knock the child down and hurt them. Even if it’s not out of aggression on the dogs part.
• Tell your children to always ask before petting a dog. Teach them to ask their parent or guardian, first then the dog owner. Some dogs are not used to kids, or can be fearful of chilren – and do not like being petted by a stranger or child. A simple, “Can I pet your dog?” can save a lot of trouble. (Some owners may say, “No I’m sorry,” teach children to respect that.)
• Children should never pet a dog as it’s walking by. Children tend to grab at or pet the mid-to tail portion of a dogs back as they are passing by and that can very easily spoke a dog.
• Teasing a dog at any time should not be acceptable by parents. Kids should be taught to respect and care for the dog.
• Consult a dog trainer to come and teach your children how to properly greet a dog, how to pet it, etc. The one at a time rule should also apply. In other words, one child at a time petting the dog. Some dogs can get overwhelmed with too many kids petting it at once. (Of course we all know dogs who love it, but safety first!)
• Some dog warning signs may be slight, a curl of the lip, a quiet growl, hackles on end, and guarding food or a toy. Some fearful dogs may have their tail between their legs, a dog trying to hide or get away from the situation, (backing behind an owner), and could result in a fear bite. Understanding a dogs’ body language and what they are saying is very important for dog owners.

A well socialized, trained and healthy dog is less likely to bite. Training, exercise and regular veterinarian check-ups are very important in a dogs life. Any breed and size of dog can bite so don’t be fooled by breedist statistics. Dogs are a wonderful part of our lives, and children benefit immensivley from having a dog in their life, but keep them safe by knowing how to avoid a bite.

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