The most frequently bitten people are
children. By the age of 14, about half of all children have
been bitten by a dog. The overwhelming majority of bites occur
in children under nine years of age, sometimes resulting in
both physical and emotional damage. Through an understanding
of canine behavior and preparation for what to do in the event
of a canine confrontation, many such bites can be avoided.
Most dogs are fun and safe to be with, but certain dogs, and
it's hard to tell which ones, have their own set of
"rules" regarding children. Whether or not we humans
feel the rules of this minority appropriate, we must help our
children become aware of situations to avoid.
This article is not meant to blame children if they are
bitten. There is rarely a good excuse for a dog biting a
person, but knowing the reasons a dog might bite, from the
dog's point of view, may be helpful in avoiding bites. Here
are some statistics from Chicago and Dallas University which
were based over a three year period of reported dog bites.
Many are not reported. Of all dog bites of children under four
years of age, most were bitten in early May. Sixty percent
were bitten on the head, neck and face, 90 percent were bitten
in their own home, 40 percent were bitten by their own dog and
60 percent of the dogs had no previous history of biting. Of
all dog bites of children age four to 16, most were bitten in
early July.
Eighteen percent were bitten on the head, neck and face,
38 percent were bitten in their own home, 18 percent were
bitten by their own dog and 50 percent of the dogs had no
previous history of biting. Further studies showed that 51
percent of the infants bitten were bitten in their cots and
most were bitten by their own pets. None of the reported bites
were by strays, and most were not witnessed by the parents.
This posed questions:
Why were the dogs allowed in children's sleeping areas?
Where were the parents?
Many of these potential bite situations can be avoided by
providing the proper training and environment for our pet
dogs. It is not, however, the intent of this article to give
information on how to bite-proof dogs, but rather how to
bite-proof children.
You can tell if a dog is upset.
Any dog can bite, but most won't if you act the way you should
around them. The signs are: tail up, hairs on its back raised,
baring teeth and growling. If a child keeps on doing what
makes the dog angry, it might get angrier and perhaps bite. If
the dog's ears are laid back with the tail between the legs,
it is scared. It might run, but it might also bite if it
cannot get away. Do not go closer if it looks like that. If a
child is bitten, he/she should try to remember what the dog
looked like and in which direction it went. The child should
tell an adult who can wash the wound with soap and water. If a
doctor has to be seen, ask for a report to take to the police.
The warning body language of aggressive dogs is: Ears
erect, body stiff, tail high, hackles up.
A fearful posture is: Ears back, body crouched, head
low, tail tucked in.
Other signs to watch for are: Growling and barking, lips
lifting, teeth bared.
Dogs that have assumed either a defensive or offensive
threat posture frequently have a "critical zone". A
child is safe around this zone until entering the imaginary
circle the dog has projected. The problem is that this zone
varies between dogs and can even be different for the same dog
if the situation changes. So it's impossible for humans to
accurately determine the critical zone. A defensive threat
posture is adopted by the shy or fearful dog. It is hesitant,
easily frightened, timid, tends to avoid certain persons or
things. Frequently, these traits are not noticed until the dog
encounters a new situation. The dog might assume elements of
the defensive threat posture when frightened.
Shy dogs can be gentle, loving, obedient pets, but may try to
bite when frightened. The dog's motive is to chase that person
away. The problem is, we cannot always tell which people or
actions frighten the dog. The fearful dog may fool you by
appearing brave. The dog growls and raises the fur along the
neck and back like a brave/aggressive dog, but ears may be
pinned back, body lowered, tail between the legs. The tail may
even be wagging, but a wagging tail doesn't always mean a
friendly dog. The dog might bark and stare, but then turn
away, only to turn toward you again and start all over. This
dog would really rather not deal with you and hopes to
frighten you away but, if pushed, it might bite.
An offensive threat posture is when a dog is hostile,
assertive, ready for combat, dominant and self-confident. It
does so when provoked. The dog can be a loving and loyal pet
to his immediate family if given proper training, but this
type of dog can bite if challenged. The motive is to hurt the
challenging person. The problem is, we do not always know what
the dog may regard as a challenge. The brave/aggressive dog's
offensive threat posture, may include growling deeply, raised
hackles, staring, a show of fangs, standing tall with ears and
tail erect and leaning toward the opponent. If the situation
is not handled carefully, this dog might bite.
So how does a child avoid getting bitten?
Never touch a dog when it is feeding.
Do not tease a dog, its ears are not hankies.
If chased by a dog while cycling, get off. Place the
bike between you and the dog. LOOK AWAY.
Avoid packs of dogs, if confronted, do not run away or
scream.
Do not disturb a sleeping dog.
If meeting a new dog, pat him on the side of the face,
under the chin or on the chest. Never place your head
above a dog's head. Crouch down, and approach on his
level.
Ask an owner if it is permissible to pat their dog. If
it is, let the dog sniff your knuckles to show you are a
friend.
Do not pat dogs in cars, it is a space they consider
worth defending.
Do not try to separate dogs fighting, go for help if
necessary.
Never approach a dog when it is chained up.
If a strange dog comes up to you, stand still, like a
lamppost.
Children and dogs can live happily together as long as
they follow the rules we have just been through. The presence
of an adult is a deterrent. Never leave dogs and children
alone.
Commitment, Firmness, but kindness.
David is a
Canine Behaviourist who works and lives in Marbella,
Spain. Tel/Fax (00345) 2883388. His web site is located
at: www.thedogman.net.
David has his own radio and TV shows, and writes for
many newspapers and magazines. David has been working
with dogs for many years and started his career in
Israel, working on the Border Police. He has been
involved in all forms of training, including air sea
rescue, air scent work, and has trained dogs for finding
drugs. David has devoted the past 10 years to studying
behaviour and the very passive approach. He does not use
choke chains, check chains, or any form of aggression.
Browse
540 Dog Breeds
Looking for information on Dogs? We have all Dog breeds listed, just click on one of the links on the list to find more information about that breed!
Looking
for the perfect Dog name? Dogs names for your new
Puppy. Browse thousands of Dog names, names for both male
and female dogs, Start looking by clicking on a letter!
Hi Cats is a website you can find extensive information on all Cat Breeds, Articles, Health, Books, Photos, Desktop Wallpapers, Posters, Training, Cats names, Links and more.
HeyDogs.com Dog Breeds Information
Guide menu 
