Apr 7, 202318 min read

Dog Bite Prevention

Updated: Jun 26, 2023

Episode 61: April 7, 2023

Sits & Wiggles, LLC:

National Dog Bite Prevention Week is upcoming. However, Sits & Wiggles feels that every week, day & moment should be dog bite prevention time. It is Sits & Wiggles' firm belief that everyone should educate themselves about animal body language. Understanding & respecting animals' body language is a crucial step in preventing bites.

Animals communicate through their body language. When people aren't aware of how to read this language, the messages are unnoticed, ignored or misconstrued. Oftentimes, people will state: "The dog attacked me out of nowhere, for no reason & without provocation." This person is most likely not aware of how to decipher the dog's body signals, or wasn't paying attention to them. Some fear free dog trainers; including Sits & Wiggles' Keith Matthews; state that "The growl is a gift." I agree with this statement, as the growling dog is clearly communicating with us. The growl is a warning. If the warning isn't heeded, the dog may feel that she has no other choice than to progress to acts of aggression in order to protect herself. People or other animals may respond to the growl by changing their actions or altering the situation. If change does not take place at this crucial moment in time, the dog may very well bite. In this scenario, she may feel that this is her only option, as her previous communications weren't received.

Some dogs have had adversive treatment & have been taught not to growl. This is a perilous predicament, as the warning growl may not occur. This leaves people & other animals less opportunity to change their actions in order to protect themselves from harm. In these scenarios, reading body language is even more important.

Often, the dog has given plenty of clues at to how he is feeling. His spine, face, eyes, ears, mouth, tail & fur all give important information to the trained observer.

Infographics courtesy of Fear Free Happy Homes / Fear Free Pets:

(FAS= Fear, Anxiety & Stress)

American Veterinary Medical Association:

Nearly 90 million nice dogs… but any dog can bite Dog bites pose a serious health risk to our communities and society. More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and more than 800,000 receive medical attention for dog bites, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). At least half of those bitten are children. Here are more dog bite facts:

Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention.
Children are the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured.
Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs.

Any dog can bite: big or small, male or female, young or old. Even the cuddliest, fuzziest, sweetest pet can bite if provoked. Remember, it is not a dog's breed that determines whether it will bite, but rather the dog's individual history and behavior. Most dog bites are preventable, and there are many things you can do at home and within your community to help prevent them.

Why do dogs bite? Dogs bite for a variety of reasons, but most commonly as a reaction to something. If the dog finds itself in a stressful situation, it may bite to defend itself or its territory. Dogs can bite because they are scared or have been startled. They can bite because they feel threatened. They can bite to protect something that is valuable to them, like their puppies, their food or a toy.

Dogs might bite because they aren't feeling well. They could be sick or sore due to injury or illness and might want to be left alone. Dogs also might nip and bite during play. Even though nipping during play might be fun for the dog, it can be dangerous for people. It's a good idea to avoid wrestling or playing tug-of-war with your dog. These types of activities can make your dog overly excited, which may lead to a nip or a bite.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week®: April 9–15, 2023 National Dog Bite Prevention Week® takes place during the second full week of April each year.

American Kennel Club:

Dog body language involves a series of unique methods for communicating emotions and intentions. It can be quite different from how humans communicate.

A lot of canine communication consists of barks, whines, and growls, so it’s important to know what dog sounds mean. More often, though, dogs rely on nonverbal body language. That can lead to plenty of human-dog misunderstandings. Sometimes, dog body language is simply unfamiliar (after all, people don’t have tails). At other times, it’s in direct contrast with what that same signal means to a human, such as with yawning or looking away. To better communicate with your canine companion, learn some tips on reading dog body language.

Tail Wagging

Tail wagging seems like an obvious body language signal. If a dog’s tail is wagging, the dog is happy, right? Wrong. People misinterpret this signal all the time. All a wagging tail means is that the dog is emotionally aroused. It could be excitement, but it could be frustration or worse. To interpret the dog’s emotions and intentions, look at the speed and direction of the wag as well as the position of the tail.

Basically, the faster the wag, the more aroused the dog. Think about those long, slow, side-to-side tail sweeps your dog makes when greeting you — the type that wag the dog’s whole body. That’s a relaxed dog. A faster twitch-like wag indicates a higher level of arousal and possibly in a negative way. Think of a guard dog on alert.

The direction of the wag may hold clues as well. A recent study on tail-wagging showed that dogs tend to wag more to the right when they feel positive about something, like interacting with their owner. Tails wagged more to the left when dogs faced something negative. Then, there’s the helicopter tail wag where the dog’s tail spins in a circle. Without question, that’s a happy wag. You’ll usually see it when a dog is greeting a beloved person.

Finally, the position of the dog’s tail relative to the ground holds important clues about their emotional state. Essentially, the higher the tail, the more assertive the dog. Dogs with their tails pointing down to the ground or even tucked between their legs are feeling fear and stress. Dogs with their tails held up like a flag are feeling confident, perhaps even aggressive. Relaxed dogs hold their tails in a neutral position, but neutral depends on the breed. Some breeds, like Chow Chows, have tails that naturally curl over their backs whereas breeds like the Italian Greyhound have a very low neutral tail position. If you get to know your dog’s neutral tail position, you will more quickly recognize when their emotions have shifted.

Raised Hackles

When a dog’s hackles are raised, it means the hair along their back is standing up. Technically called piloerection, the fur can fluff up across the shoulders or down the back and all the way to the tail. This is a definite sign that the dog is aroused, but not necessarily in a negative way. The dog might be upset or stressed but could also be excited or intensely interested in something. It’s often an involuntary reaction, like goosebumps in people.

Posture

A dog’s weight distribution can tell a lot about mood and intention. Consider a cowering dog that is hunched toward the ground. That’s a sign of fear or stress. The dog may be trying to get away from something and the posture makes the dog appear smaller. In other words, it says, “I mean no harm.” The extreme of this posture is a dog that rolls onto their back exposing the belly. This may look like a dog soliciting a belly rub, and in a relaxed dog, it often is. But it can actually be a sign of considerable stress and anxiety. The dog may even urinate a little in appeasement.

The opposite posture is a dog with his or her weight shifted forward. This dog is trying to get closer to something. This might simply indicate the dog’s interest. But it could also indicate offensive intentions, particularly paired with other aggressive body language cues like a twitching tail held high. In this case, the dog is trying to appear larger.

An easy-to-read aspect of dog body language is the play bow. This is when dogs place their chest on the ground with their rump in the air. As the name implies, it’s used to initiate play with other dogs and even with people.

A less easily understood signal is the paw raise. In the pointing breeds like the English Setter, the paw raise is part of pointing behavior where the dog indicates nearby prey. But outside of this context, a raised paw often indicates a dog is uncertain about a situation or perhaps feels a bit insecure.

Facial Expressions

Dogs have similar facial features as people, but they don’t use them in the same way. Consider yawning. People yawn when they’re tired or bored, but dogs yawn when they’re stressed. According to Turid Rugaas, author of On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals, dogs use yawning to calm themselves in tense situations and to calm others, including their owners. She suggests yawning at your dog to provide comfort at stressful moments like a vet visit. But don’t be surprised if your dog yawns back. Just as yawning is contagious in people, dogs can “catch” yawns too.

Lip-licking is another bit of dog body language that people often misinterpret. Just like people, dogs will lick their lips after a delicious meal, but they will also do it when they feel anxious. Sometimes the tongue flick is so quick it’s tricky to notice. Your dog isn’t signaling a desire to lick your face, but rather discomfort with a given situation.

The most confusing facial expression is smiling. Yes, some dogs smile, and if you’re not familiar with the expression it can look terrifying. Usually, when dogs bare their teeth, it serves as a warning, as if they’re saying, “Look at my weapons.” It’s hard to mistake the aggressive intention of a snarl, especially when it’s paired with a menacing growl. The corners of the dog’s lips form the shape of a C and the front teeth are fully displayed.

Smiling dogs also display their front teeth, but the meaning is the complete opposite. Also known as a submissive grin, this expression is often found on a happy dog with a loose and wiggly posture. The dog’s overall attitude says, “Hello, I come in peace.”

Eyes You can learn a lot about your dog’s internal state by looking at the eyes. First, a dog’s eyes can be soft or hard. Soft eyes have relaxed lids and sometimes look like the dog is squinting. They indicate the dog is calm or happy. The opposite is hard eyes where the eyes seem to go cold. These indicate a negative state of mind, and you’ll know them when you see them. The dog might be guarding a toy or feeling aggressive. A hard stare, where the dog looks intently at something, especially for a long time, usually signals a threat.

Eye contact is an important signal for dogs. Just as the hard stare can be a precursor to aggression, looking away is meant to calm a situation. When dogs feel stressed, they will pointedly look away and avoid eye contact. People often interpret this as their dog ignoring them or being stubborn, but the dog is expressing discomfort.

The whites of the eyes are another key indicator. Known as “whale eye”, when a dog shows the whites of the eyes, it’s a signal they are feeling anxious or stressed in a situation. You might see them when you make your dog uncomfortable, like when you pat your dog on the head, or when they’re afraid someone will steal a bone or toy.

Deciphering Dog Body Language None of these dog body language signals act alone. They are all part of a package. So, when you read a dog’s communication, look at every signal the dog is using from the tail height to the eye shape. Your dog is “talking” to you all the time. If you learn what your dog is saying, you will develop a deeper bond of trust and respect. Plus, your newfound understanding of your dog’s emotional state will help you predict your dog’s behavior and prevent problems before they occur.

American Veterinary Medical Association:

Reading dog body language We all know that dogs can’t talk to us, so they use their own vocalizations, body gestures and postures to express themselves. They rely on these types of communication to let people and other dogs know their emotions, especially if they feel stressed, frightened or threatened. They hope that the gestures will work to calm the situation and keep them out of trouble. We can’t always read a dog’s body language accurately. Dogs, just like people, have their own, unique personalities, and they don’t all express themselves in the same way. One dog wagging its tail might mean that the animal is happy to see you or wants to play. The same gesture in another dog might mean that it’s anxious or nervous. Sometimes, dogs will yawn, put their ears back or raise a paw if they are feeling worried. As the dog gets more concerned about the situation it’s in, its behavior will change. For example, if a dog tucks its tail under its belly or leg, lies down with a leg up or stiffens its body and stares at you, it could be trying to tell you that it’s frightened or threatened. When the dog reacts by growling, snapping or biting, it’s telling you that it wants to be left alone – Right now! Remember, we can’t predict whether a dog will bite or not based on its size and breed. Always focus on the behavior of the animal. Ask yourself a question next time you’re around a dog and want to play with it: Does the dog seem like it wants to be with you? If the dog is relaxed and friendly, and seems happy to see you, it’s probably in a good, playful mood and will welcome your attention. If the dog won’t look at you or is avoiding you by walking or turning away, it’s probably best to let it go on its way and leave it alone. If it seems tense and nervous, or seems to be staring at you, you’ll want to stay away. If it’s not your dog, always rely on its owner to help you understand the pet’s mood. Always, always ask the owner’s permission before you attempt to pet a dog you don’t know.

SETTING YOUR DOG UP FOR SUCCESS

Socialize your dog as a puppy. By introducing your puppy to people and other animals, you help it become more comfortable in different situations as it gets older.
Be with your dog when he or she interacts with unfamiliar people, and don’t force people to interact with your dog if they appear reluctant, uninterested or afraid. An interaction can easily and quickly change from play to aggression, especially with kids. However, children should interact with animals -- and they should be taught the difference between having a good interaction and a bad one.
Remove your dog from the situation whenever they seem to be anxious or agitated, or is behaving in an inappropriate manner. Put your dog somewhere safe and quiet. By doing this, you’re not actually punishing the dog. You’re interrupting behaviors you don’t like, and that gives you time to change the situation before bad behaviors become habits.
Provide your dog with a secure resting space and supervision in risky situations. Your dog is part of your family and wants to be part of family life. But sometimes it’s difficult for us to fully understand how a dog sees the world.

Teaching children to prevent dog bites When you're teaching children about dog bite prevention and how to be safe around dogs, keep it simple. Discuss animals, how we relate to them, and the role of animals in your family, not just how to avoid being bitten. If you have younger children, always supervise them around dogs and be mindful of how the child interacts with the dog so they learn to be gentle from the beginning. AVOIDING INCIDENTS WITH STRANGE DOGS

Stay away from dogs you don't know. If you or your child sees an unknown dog wandering around loose and unsupervised, avoid the dog and consider leaving the area. Consider alerting animal control.
Don’t ever pet a dog without asking first. Both adults and children should always ask the owner for permission to pet their dog, even if it’s a dog you know, or that has seemed friendly toward you before.
Quietly walk away. When confronted by an aggressive dog, slow movements are best.
Be a tree. Stand still if a dog comes after you, then take a defensive position. Stand quietly, with hands low and clasped in front. Remain still and keep your head down as if looking at your feet. If knocked down, cover your head and neck with your arms and curl into a ball.
Avoid escalating the situation by yelling, running, hitting or making sudden movements toward the dog.

AVOIDING INCIDENTS AT HOME

Never tease dogs by taking their toys, food, or treats, or by pretending to hit or kick.
Never pull a dog’s ears or tail, and don't drag, climb on, or try to ride dogs
Don't try to play dress up with the dog. Some dogs won't like it.
Leave dogs alone when they're eating or sleeping.
If a dog goes to bed or to their crate, don’t bother them. The bed or crate is the dog’s space to be left alone. A dog needs a comfortable, safe place where the child never goes. If you’re using a crate, it should be covered with a blanket and be near a family area, such as in your living room or another area of your home where the family frequently spends time. Note: don't isolate your dog or their crate, or you may accidentally encourage bad behavior.

TIPS FOR PARENTS It's important to educate children at a level they can understand. Don’t expect young children to be able to accurately read a dogs’ body language. Instead, focus on gentle behavior and that dogs have likes and dislikes and help them develop understanding of dog behavior as they grow older.

As a parent, report stray dogs or dogs that frequently get loose in your neighborhood.
Keep dogs away from infants and young children unless there is direct and constant supervision.
Teach children that the dog has to want to play with them and when the dog leaves, he leaves -- he’ll return for more play if he feels like it. This is a simple way to allow kids to be able to tell when a dog wants to play and when he doesn’t.
Don’t give kids too much responsibility for pets too early - they just may not be ready. Always supervise and check on pet care responsibilities given to children to ensure they are carried out
Remember: if you get your kids a pet, you’re getting yourself a pet, too.

Recognizing risky situations You never know when you might encounter a risky situation with a dog, regardless whether that dog is known or unknown to you. It’s important to know how to avoid escalating risky situations and to understand when you should and should not interact with dogs. Like most accidents, dog bites tend to happen in the home or neighborhood. One common mistake people make is they believe that dogs they’ve seen or interacted with before will always interact with them in the same way, and that simply isn’t true. Any number of things could cause a dog to act out, even if there haven’t been any prior problems with that dog. You can reduce the risk of dog bite injuries, and the most important thing is to never think any dog is completely safe. In a situation where a dog is acting fearful or aggressive, don’t provoke the dog. Disengage and move away when any dog behaves aggressively. Don’t make any sudden movements or loud or high-pitched sounds because these may activate the dog’s predator instinct and escalate its behavior. Move away slowly, confidently, and calmly, and break eye contact with the dog.

When you go to someone’s house or to the park, it’s easy to make mistakes and not recognize risk or the signs of a growing problem. People assume all dogs are nice, or assume because a dog is friendly with someone else, it is safe for them to approach and touch. Also, just because you’ve had a positive interaction with a dog before doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to happen that way again. Remain alert to risks in dogs, even those you think you know.

Aside from being smart about interacting with dogs you think you know, you also should avoid long interactions with dogs that aren’t completely familiar to you and be careful about approaching them. Be mindful of your surroundings, the dog’s behavior, and anything that might make the dog feel threatened, challenged or cornered. Be aware that signs like a yellow ribbon or orange bandana may indicate a dog that should not be approached. Even if you think a dog will tolerate something -- like petting, for example -- don’t do it without asking the owner for permission first. For example, a dog might appear normal but have a painful health condition that could cause the dog to fear being touched or cause it to bite if touched in certain areas.

The more uncomfortable you make a dog, the closer you get to the risk zone. The easiest way to avoid this is not to startle or bother the dog. When meeting a dog, offer the back of your hand and see wither it is comfortable approaching and sniffing. Interactions initiated by the dog are safer because the dog is coming to you and wants to interact, but these situations are not completely free of risk depending on the mood and intent of the dog; so be guided by the owner, who knows the dog best. Take an ambivalent response by the owner as a “no” as some owners may be reluctant to admit their dog can be aggressive. Always make sure to ask if it’s all right for you to play with the dog. And even if the dog initiates the contact, avoid doing things that may trigger predatory instincts or aggression, such as prolonged eye contact, quick or jerky movements, and high-pitched or loud sounds. Remain mindful and disengage if the dog or owner seems to become uncomfortable with the situation.

Sometimes in a park or on the street, you could be confronted with a dog that’s off-leash. Move away calmly and slowly if you encounter a dog that is not on a leash. If the dog is displaying aggressive behaviors, contact authorities immediately and report the dog’s location and appearance. Avoid engaging with the dog, and caution others (particularly children) to remain calm and avoid engaging with the dog.

If you’re a dog owner, buy a leash that is sturdy and easy to see. Teach your dog to sit quietly when patted, or politely refuse requests if your dog is uncomfortable with or does not behave appropriately when being petted by strangers. Take responsibility for keeping your dog from approaching people unless they invite the interaction. Whenever possible avoid making pedestrians walk through an area where you dog could easily approach them due to a long or lax leash. You may know your dog is good natured, but they do not and could be made to feel uncomfortable about having dogs around them in the community. For this reason it may be wise to not use retractable leashes in busy areas as irresponsible use has made some people uncomfortable around dogs that may or may not be fully under control. It’s your responsibility to prevent dog bites, too, and to show people that dog owners in their neighborhood are considerate and responsible.

The important thing to remember is that any dog can be dangerous and any dog can bite. Use proper judgment, ask permission before touching or playing with a dog, and make confident, slow movements. Being smart about your interactions with dogs can help prevent bites and can make a positive experience for both you and the dog.

Responding to a dog bite WHAT DO I DO IF I’M BITTEN? If you are bitten by a dog, here is a checklist of things you should do:

If the dog's owner is present, request proof of rabies vaccination, and get the owner's name and contact information.
Clean the bite wound with soap and water as soon as possible.
Consult your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if it's after office hours.
Contact the dog's veterinarian to check vaccination records.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY DOG BITES SOMEONE? Dog bites are scary for everyone involved – the person who has been bitten, the dog owner and even the dog. If your dog happens to bite someone, remember that you are responsible to help the person who has been bitten and to remove your dog from the situation. What should you do if the unfortunate happens?

Restrain your dog immediately.
Separate your dog from the scene of the bite.
Try to confine your dog in a safe place.
Check on the bite victim’s condition.
Make sure that the wounds are washed with soap and water.
Encourage the bite victim to seek professional medical advice to check on the seriousness of the wound and the risk of rabies or other infections.
Call 911 if a response by paramedics is needed.
Provide important information.
Give the bite victim – or others who are with the person at the time of the incident – your name, address and phone number, as well as information about your dog’s most recent rabies vaccination.
Obey local rules and laws regarding reporting of dog bites.
Talk to your veterinarian for advice about dog behavior that will help prevent similar incidents in the future.

#biteprevention #safetyfirst #wigglyk9 #fearfree