Dog bites are a very serious concern over recent years with the criminal activities of dog fighting breeding more and more dogs to be aggressive. Dogs have a natural instinct that can lead to dog bites anyway, and the addition of our training them to kill has caused some rather nasty dog bite headlines. Dogs have actually killed people in recent years. That said, how do you manage to avoid a dog bite in today’s society of pets?
Avoiding Dog Bites At Home
Many people get bitten by their very own pet dogs. This is a situation usually where the dog has been abused, or is otherwise mishandled by their owners. Sometimes it is just a matter of the dog doing what comes natural in a certain situation. Dogs bite out of fear most often.
If you are trying out something new with your dog, such as a first bath, then make sure you do so with caution. Otherwise friendly dogs can turn vicious if they are scared or feel like they are in danger.
Another common time that pet owners get bitten is when they attempt to take away food, or something that the pet dog sees as his own. When you must do these sorts of things, first remove the dog from the area.
Finally, if your dog ever gets into a fight with another dog, make sure that you do not try to physically remove the dogs from one another. A loud noise, or cold water can sometimes do the trick safely. If you try to get in the middle of the dog fight, both your own dog and the strange dog could easily bite you.
Avoiding Dog Bites In Public
Occasionally we find ourselves confronted with a stray dog, or a dog that has gotten loose from their owner. These situations are the most dangerous and account for the largest number of dog bites. There are some things that you can do to avoid getting bitten. Here is a short list:
- Never look the dog in the eyes. This triggers the natural response in the dog to accept a challenge.
- Never run from the dog unless you are absolutely certain that you will make it to safety in time. Running from the dog will cause them to chase and bite you instinctively as well.
- Remain calm in the face of an aggressive dog. Though this is hard, it could save your life.
- Always protect your head and neck in a dog attack. The dogs will often go after your head and neck if they get you on the ground so make sure you stay upright.
- Offer the dog a purse, or anything else you have on you instead of a limb. Dogs will often latch onto these items as an extension of you. Better to have your purse ruined than your arm or leg damaged.
- Never go into a yard where a dog is unfamiliar with you without the owner being present. No matter how many times they tell you he is harmless, if he does not know you a bite is possible.
