17 Tips to Prevent Dog Bites

Is there a dog in your neighborhood that frightenes you or makes you nervous?

Just about every neighborhood probably has that anxiety-creating situation.

I love dogs. Dogs are not evil or bad. Like people they are sometimes raised by dysfunctional people or people who are bad or just plain evil. The personality of a dog is created by its environment and training.

Unfortunately, that means that some poor dogs can become unpredictable and/or vicious. I've known a couple of people whose dogs have been attacked by a dysfunctional dog. No one wants to experience a dog bite or be the owner of a dog who bites. That's why I gathered some tips from experts on how to prevent dog bites.

The tips below refer especially to strange dogs, i.e., dogs you do not own, but they're good tips for your own dog too if your dog is one commonly thought of as an agressive breed. No one wants to experience a dog bite or be the owner of a dog who bites. 

1. If you are a dog owner, do not allow your dog to roam free, unleashed. That also means don't put your dog on a 20 foot retractable leash where it can reach a person in their own front yard and endanger them.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

2. If meeting a dog, do not put your face close to a dog. A dog might take this as a threatening move.

3. Do not pet a strange dog—especially not a stray dog who is probably frightened. Dogs act out of self-defense, and it a dog is lost, it's scared and may perceive even the kindest gesture as a threat.

4. Do not tease a dog. Even your own dog when constantly teased may become frustrated and lash out.

5. Do not startle a dog. Dogs are much like horses in that sudden moves or loud sounds can make them react adversely.

6. Do not tap or stroke a sleeping dog. Awaken it with your voice first.

7. Do not leave a small child and a dog—especially a large dog—alone together.

8. Never leave your dog alone with strangers. Dogs are like kids. They need to "meet" a caregiver and get to know them while you are present.

9. Never violate a dog's territory, i.e., going into a strange dog's yard. It may feel cornered or feel it must defend it's territory.

Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

10. Watch your body language. Don't do anything that resembles a challeng to a strange dog.

11. Never run at or chase a strange dog. It may treat that as agression and give agression in return.

12, Don't run from a dog. Dogs are animals with the inborn instinct to chase "prey."

13. Do not pet or touch a a dog when it's eating. Animals are instinctively possessive of their food.

14. NEVER, NEVER try to break up a dog fight using your bare hands or inserting your body between the dogs. You can end up severely injured.

Use a blast of water from a garden hose if that's handy, a big cup of ice water, or a long sturdy stick or broom handle to try to separate them. 

No matter how much you love your dog, this kind of situation is more dangerous than you can imagine. Injuries or even death are possible for not only your dog but also you. Make the habit of walking with one of the walking sticks that's now  become popular. 

15. Acquaint yourself with dog behavior so you'll recognize warning signs. The way a dog stands, the way its tail is held, the sounds it makes—there are many signs of agression or agitation.

16. Socialize your dog early in its llife so it can be around other dogs and people without being aggressive.

17. After you've learned all of this, teach your children so they'll know how to behave with dogs.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

There are severe penalties for the poor dog who ends up labeled dangerous. Don't let that happen to your dog.

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