Preventing dog-related injuries

All dogs can bite

Not just unfamiliar dogs or strays — all dogs can bite or scratch. Dogs defend themselves when they are scared, feel threatened, or are protecting a resource, and they can also bite or scratch when they are in pain or any sort of physical distress. Prevention starts long before a bite is even close, and it starts with one idea: give the dog choices.

Three habits that prevent injuries

1. 1
   Give the dog choices

   Space, participation, and approach are the dog's to decide. The details are below.

2. 2
   Avoid forcefully removing food or a toy from a dog's mouth

   Unless it is a genuine emergency.

3. 3
   Move slowly and thoughtfully

   No fast hands, no sudden reaches — with any dog or puppy.

What giving a dog choices looks like

Choice is the cheapest safety equipment you own. In practice it means:

• Increase the space between you and a dog if they are fearful.
• Let a dog decide whether to participate in an activity — favorite treats are a great way to persuade a dog to opt in.
• Allow a dog to approach you before any greeting, touching or petting.
• If a dog chooses not to approach a person or another dog, accept the choice. It is never okay to force a dog to meet a person or another dog.

The numbers

The statistics on dog bites point in one direction: bites happen close to home, with dogs people know.

The dog that bites is usually a dog somebody knows. "He's friendly" is a starting point for observation, not a safety guarantee.

• Nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention.
• Children are the most common victims — and children aged 5 to 9 are most frequently bitten on the face, head and neck.
• Senior citizens are the second most common victims.
• Most bites affecting young children happen during everyday activities with familiar dogs.
• Over half of bite injuries occur at home, with a familiar dog — not an unknown one.
• The more dogs in a home, the higher the likelihood of a bite. Adults living with two or more dogs are five times more likely to be bitten than adults living without dogs.

The four fear responses

The common reactions of a stressed dog are known as the four fear responses:

Stress stops learning

If you witness any of these responses, stop and analyze the situation. A dog under stress cannot effectively learn or interact with humans and dogs. Wherever possible, relieve the stress before it has a chance to escalate into a dangerous situation.

See a fear response, change the situation. Waiting to see whether it gets worse is how it gets worse.