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Published in Dog Watch in the December, 2003 issue (volume 7, Number 12)
Dog bite prevention: Keep safety in mind, especially with children around
By MICHELLE BAMBERGER
How would you react to what appeared to be a friendly dog—tail up and wagging, ears up and alert? How would a child react to the same situation? Most of us would approach and attempt to pet, especially if the dog is one we know: our own dog or a neighbor’s dog. But should we approach? And what should we teach children to do under such circumstances?
Studies have shown that 50% of the estimated 3 to 4.5 million dog bites occurring each year in the United States involve children less than 14 years old 1,2 with the highest incidence rate for boys age 5 to 9 years.3 Surprisingly, 3 of 5 victims were bitten by a dog they knew: the family dog or one living in the neighborhood.4 In many of these situations, a baby or toddler was bitten by the family dog or the bite occurred when a child entered the dog’s yard while the dog was confined by an invisible fence system or on a tether.
Oftentimes we don’t know why dogs bite; the incident is over before those involved can remember what precipitated the attack. But in most cases, dogs do give adequate warning, and as dog owners, we can become astute observers of our dogs’ behavior and teach our children to do the same.
The best way to learn about your dog’s behavior is to watch. Does your dog guard the food bowl by growling or lunging if anyone approaches? Can you take a rawhide or favorite toy away from your dog without incident? Does your dog become distressed if anyone comes too close while he/she is resting or sleeping? Can you bend over your dog and remove him/her from the furniture or bed without a growl or a snap? How does your dog react to visitors at the door or new situations? Can you leave your dog with your children without your dog showing signs of anxiety (pacing, destruction of house, soiling, barking, howling, salivation)? If your dog is uncomfortable in any of these scenarios, you or your children are at risk of being bitten.
So what steps should we take in order to prevent dog bites? The first and most important recommendation is to be responsible pet owners. If you have children, invite them to accompany you while you walk your dog on lead, clean up after the dog and feed the dog. Schedule vet visits so that your children can be with you. Very young children (six years and under) should always be accompanied by an adult when interacting with a dog.
Know what your dog looks like when he is happy and when he is not: note the position of the ears, head, body and tail. In many dogs, this may be difficult as ears don’t always stand up and tails may be small or hard to distinguish. In general, a dog that is ready to interact in a positive way will have a relaxed body, ears up or floppy and a wagging tail. A dog that is ready to interact but is unsure or anxious about the situation will stand rigidly with the ears up and tail held high and wagging slowly; a dog in this posture may bite at the least provocation. A fearful dog will pin his ears back, tuck his tail, crouch and bite if confronted. Since dogs may change quickly from being comfortable in a situation to becoming uncomfortable, just as we can, it is important to remain observant during any interactions with a dog. And keep in mind that some dogs give little to no warning and that if you feel the least bit unsure about how the dog will act, it’s best to proceed with caution.
Respect your dog, especially during eating, sleeping, eliminating and caring for puppies. Children should never startle or tease your dog. Separate children from your dog whenever there is tempting food involved or excitement levels increase due to special celebrations or visitors. Play sessions should not become so rough that your dog begins to bite or mount; teach your children to stand and walk away from your dog in these situations.
No matter how appealing, avoid all unfamiliar animals. In particular, don’t reach over or into fences, runs or kennels where animals are housed. Children should avoid riding their bicycles back and forth in front of these locations. Don’t stare or shout at a dog. To avoid being chased, never run from a dog; instead, stand still and be quiet with arms crossed and look away from the dog. If you fear that the dog will attack you, place something such as a bicycle between you and the dog. Screaming, shouting and running, especially by small children, remind dogs of prey animals. If you are attacked, roll into a ball and then stay as still and quiet as possible.
If your own dog is behaving in ways that frighten you or your children, it is important to find out why before bites occur. Most cases of aggression in dogs are manageable with proper treatment. The love, companionship and acceptance our dogs provide to us and our children make it well worth our time to prevent disasters from destroying that invaluable relationship.
Michelle Bamberger is a veterinarian and owner of Vet Behavior Consults (www.vetbehaviorconsults.com), a practice based in Ithaca and devoted exclusively to solving behavioral problems in small, large and exotic animals.
References
1. Sacks JJ, Kresnow M, Houston B. Dog bites: how big a problem? Inj Prev 1996;2:52-54.
2. Thomas PR, Buntine JA. Man’s best friend?: a review of the Austin Hospital’s experience with dog bites. Med J Aust 1987;147:536-540.
3. Weiss HB, Friedman DI, Cohen JH. Incidence of dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments. JAMA 1998;279:51-53.
4. Berzon DR,DeHoff JB. Medical costs and other aspects of dog bites in Baltimore. Pub Health Rep 1974;90:377-381.