The Prevention of Dog Bites
The second of April brings awareness to National Dog Bite Prevention Week. I have always been passionate about this subject because over 70% of dog bites are preventable. When understanding that these are preventable we can prevent so many unnecessary euthanization of dogs. This education can also prevent the fear of dogs that happens in kids and adults.
Why Does Allison Care so much about Dog Bite Prevention?
Other than that 70% of dog bites are preventable and why not prevent something, right? My own dog Mojo was in a home where the kids were not educated on how to interact with dogs. The kids would corner her, put their hands in her face and not act appropriately until one day she bit them. They didn’t listen to her signals that she gave, they weren’t taught how to interact and they pushed her to a point where she felt that she needed to defend herself by biting them.
Is biting ok? No. However, the bites could have been prevented. Just because Mojo is a dog, does not mean she isn’t allowed her space. Understand that her body language is expressing that says back off I need space is important. Dogs do give off signals that say I need space. Just like humans they need that. However, humans think that because they are animals that it doesn’t matter and we have the right to do whatever we want and they will not lash out. This is an incorrect assumption.
Mojo’s story ended with her having fear of young boys. She was almost put down becasue of the bite history but then I came and rescued her and we still have a lot of work to do. It took her almost 4 visits with my nieces to be comfortable with them. Situations like this could have been avoided with education.
How Can You Help Prevent Dog Bites?
Here are some things to remember in regards to dog safety with both kids and adults to prevent dog bites:
- Remember that every dog is different, so what one dog may “tolerate”, another absolutely does not like. So with your children always supervise the interaction. Don’t let them ride them, treat them like a toy, pull their tails, ears, their jowels, put their hands in their mouths, kick them or inflict pain of any kind.
- While kids love to run and scream and play. This is not something that dog will find fun or work to your benefit. The dogs may find this alarming, get overstimulated, chase them, and then it can go downhill. So if there is times that it will be happening with the kids. It is best that the dog be separated from the kids at this time.
For more tips on biting and prevention, follow me on facebook or reach out to me via my contact page for other resources.
Wags,
Allison
