Every year, approximately 4.7 million dog bite incidents occur in the United States. Unfortunately, some of these incidents result in death, and it's often children who are the victims.
According to recorded dog attack statistics, many dog bites involve certain breeds that have earned bad reputations such as pit bulls and Rottweilers. But it's important to remember that other breeds can—and do—bite, sometimes when provoked, and sometimes for reasons we don't understand. Here are some tips on how to prevent dog bites.
- Never Leave a Child Unattended With a Dog
Many people have learned this one the hard way. Because certain breeds have been stigmatized as being bad or dangerous, people feel comfortable leaving their children with their dogs of other breeds. An infant in Texas was killed by the family's Labrador mix in full view of the mother who had stepped out of the house. Even this doesn't make the dog bad or vicious, but they are animals who may not understand the difference between a baby and a small animal they might normally go after. Even the sweetest, most obedient dogs can bite a squirming, wriggling baby. Never leave a baby—or any child—alone with a dog, or with any animal.
- Teach Your Child to Respect Animals
Many instances of dogs biting children have been prompted by the child first teasing or abusing the animal in some way. Intentionally or not, children will sometimes pull a dog's ears, poke its eyes, hit it, or do other things that the dog will interpret as aggression. A provoked dog will defend itself, and it cannot reason, "This is a child, so I shouldn't hurt it, even though it's hurting me." Educate your kids about respecting animals, and how to behave with them so no dog is ever put in a situation where it feels it has to defend itself from your child, which can end up with your child being injured.
- Learn How to Handle an Aggressive Dog
It's not just kids who are victims of dog bites. A scenario that is becoming more and more common is for loose dogs to attack joggers. A runner in Maine was attacked by a Labrador, and the dog's owner was charged for not having the dog properly confined. Luckily, the jogger wasn't seriously injured, but that's not always the case. But as that instance also demonstrates, it's not always pit bulls or Rottweilers that attack people. The biggest mistake people make when a dog attacks is to yell and run away. This will only prompt the dog to give chase, and most dogs—especially larger ones—can easily outrun a human. When charged by a dog, stand still, and don't make any sudden moves the dog may see as aggression. If the dog knocks you over, curl up into a ball and lie still. Fighting the dog will only escalate the attack. If you're bitten, seek medical attention, and report the incident to the authorities.
Ultimately, dog owners are responsible when their dogs bite or attack people. Dogs that have been abused or traumatized in some way are more likely to be aggressive toward people, and some dogs are even trained to be vicious by their misguided owners. Until these kinds of attitudes change, the dog bite problem will only get worse. In the meantime, following these tips can help you protect yourself, and your family. |
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