{"id":1010,"date":"2014-09-01T13:11:56","date_gmt":"2014-09-01T17:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=1010"},"modified":"2019-05-30T14:11:19","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T18:11:19","slug":"dog-bite-prevention-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/dog-bite-prevention-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Dog Bite Prevention and Education"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"iStock_000016985167_Medium\"<\/a>Have you or a loved one ever experienced or witnessed a dog bite?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s likely you have. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Unfortunately, many of these incidents could have been prevented through proper training and socialization of the dog, beginning in puppyhood. Also by educating individuals on ways to mitigate a bite-occurrence from happening in the first place.<\/p>\n

Of course, the first important step in creating a safe environment for your pet pooch and those around him or her is through basic and ethical obedience training. By providing training to your new puppy, you help reduce the risk of bites or aggressive or otherwise problematic behaviors down the road. And, since the majority of dog bites occur at home with a known canine, bite prevention education should begin at home and include all members of the family.<\/p>\n

Here are three common mistakes pet owners make before a dog bite occurs:<\/em><\/h3>\n

Lack of Supervision \u00a0\u2013 <\/i><\/b>In most dog bite cases involving a child, the responsible adult chose to leave the child unattended with the family dog or a neighbor\u2019s dog. It\u2019s imperative to keep in mind that a dog bite can happen in those \u201cfew minutes\u201d you step away to answer your cell or get something from the kitchen. Don\u2019t leave a young child unattended with a canine for any length of time, especially when the child is under 5 years of age.\u00a0<\/b>
\nBreed Bias<\/p>\n

Breed Bias \u2013\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Many people assume that the breeds deemed most likely to bite, or those that cause greater injury, are the dogs to be wary of. In fact, all dogs have innate predatory instincts, no matter how small, timid, or otherwise well-behaved. Assume, particularly when exposing small children to a pet dog, that the dog is capable of nipping or biting if he or she is startled, feeling threatened (tail pulling, for example) or defensive.
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span>Dogs Perceive Things Differently \u2013<\/strong>Humans may assume that overt forms of provocation, such as pulling on ears, manhandling, or wrestling with the family dog to be bite-risk behaviors (and they are). What we \u00a0often overlook though are more subtle mistakes. Dogs can \u00a0become defensive when guarding what they view as resources. These resources can include food, toys, or even you.<\/p>\n

Other common situations that incite attack include coming face-to-face with a dog, starling him or her while asleep, or maintaining eye contact with a dog who is fearful or aggressive.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to remember that animals in pain often bite. If your otherwise kind and mellow dog suddenly becomes aggressive for no apparent reason, it may be a sign that he or she is in pain and needs medical attention.<\/p>\n

If You\u2019re Under Threat of Attack<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n