Tips to Prevent Dog Bites

According to the American Humane Association, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year. The AHA also reports that approximately $1 billion dollars worth of dog bite-related insurance claims are paid out every year by insurance companies. Dog bites are a serious issue; as a pet owner, it is your responsibility to do everything in your power to prevent your dog from biting.

  1. Respect Your Dog

    • The Humane Society of the United States recommends making it a point to always be respectful of your dog's personal space. Let your dog see you and sniff you when you approach him. Make sure that when strangers are approaching your dog, they also take the time to allow the dog to see them and sniff them. Don't sneak up on your dog or take him by surprise when he is eating, sleeping, chewing on a toy or otherwise engaged in an activity. Dogs are more likely to bite when they are startled or feel threatened. Make sure your dog has plenty of time to see you and accept your presence before you begin to actively touch or interact with him.

    Be Smart About Canine Body Language

    • Many dogs will show warning behavior before they actually bite. You should behave very carefully around a dog if you notice he is standing very still or seems tense, has a stiff tail, pulls his head or ears back away from you, furrows his brow, is showing the whites of his eyes, bares his teeth, growls, raises the hackles on his back, yawns at you, stares at you intensely or tries to back away from you. Anytime you see behavior from a dog that seems less than accepting of your presence, you should give that dog plenty of room. If the dog does not belong to you, you may want to ask the owner to put the dog that is showing aggressive or questionable behavior away in an another room.

    Use Your Common Sense

    • Don't approach dogs you don't know without speaking to the owners. Don't walk into yards or homes where signs have been posted to warn individuals about potentially dangerous dogs. If you have a dog who might bite, post signs to warn individuals who might come on your property. Don't leave a dog who is not trustworthy off-leash or unsupervised.

    When Your Dog Bites

    • Owning a biting dog is a big responsibility. You can never completely trust a dog who has bitten in the past or behaved as if he wanted to bite. If you own a biting dog, you need to work with your veterinarian and a professional dog trainer to try and determine the cause of the biting as well as to attempt to train your dog not to bite. In public, your dog needs to be kept on a leash and muzzled. At home, your dog needs to be completely contained at all times so that he cannot escape.