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Dog Bite Prevention Tips

Our children are our world. They fill us with joy and challenge us to do better every day. As parents we try and protect them from harm at all costs. One way to help your child stay safe is by avoiding dog bites and attacks.

Children are the most often attacked group of people. Their size, unabashed love of animals and tendency toward playing roughly with animals puts them at risk of being attacked or bitten by a dog.

Prevention starts at home, with education and avoidance techniques. Many organizations offer excellent tips to prevent dog bites. This list is intended to give you some ways to protect and help your children avoid being attacked by a dog. Some tips pertain to educating your children while others are aimed at helping avoid bites from your family dog.

Prevention measures for the dog owner:

• 1. Protect your dog against rabies by keeping the immunizations up to date.
• 2. Leash your dog when out of the house. This will prevent him from running free and possibly biting someone.
• 3. Properly socialize your dog. A socially friendly dog is less likely to become afraid and bite someone.
• 4. Play only nonaggressive games such as fetch. Aggressive wrestling or tug of war games can foster inappropriate behaviors in your pet.
• 5. Spay or neuter your dog. Once spayed or neutered they will be less likely to bite.

Prevention measures for adults and children:

• 1. Small children should never be left alone with a pet.
• 2. Teach your children to ask for permission before petting or approaching a dog.
• 3. Keep away from a dog's fence. They consider this their territory and may bite if their space is threatened.
• 4. Do not disturb a sleeping, eating or drinking dog.
• 5. A mother dog will be very protective of her pups. Do not try to get too close or pick up her puppy.
• 6. Do not run or scream near a friendly or aggressive dog. This will only upset and make the dog more aggressive.
• 7. Avoid looking directly into a dogs eyes. This is seen as a challenge or threat.
• 8. Never tease or taunt a dog. Even a dog behind a fence may get loose and attack the teaser.

Though there are times when dog attacks come from nowhere and are impossible to stop, there are some things you can do as a pet owner and parent to help avoid the lifelong injuries and physical and emotional scars associated with dog bites.

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