Reducing the Risk of Dog Bites

It is important to recognise that aggression is a natural and normal part of canine behaviour and that all dogs have the potential to bite.
 
Any situation that causes a dog to feel threatened can increase their need to display aggressive behaviour. For example, if a dog is wary of a child, he may attempt to stop the child entering his personal space by acting defensively.
 
However, dogs also have an array of non-aggressive signals. They use these in response to a perceived threat, in order to show that they are uncomfortable with a particular situation and to avoid any physical confrontation. Biting tends to be a last resort.
 
Non-aggressive signals include: moving away, yawning, blinking, averting gaze and lip licking. The correct response to these signals would be to immediately give the dog more space, in order to allow him to feel more comfortable. If these signals are not responded to appropriately, the dog will display more aggressive signals of unease such as growling, snapping and biting.
 
Routinely ignoring non-aggressive signals may lead to a dog learning that only the more aggressive signals are reliable in reducing the perceived threat. Equally, punishment will increase the dog’s level of anxiety and may suppress the use of these signals, leading to the dog feel that he has no options left but to bite.
 
Please be aware, a dog who is in pain, suddenly startled, restricted on a lead or even tied up outside a school/shop, will be more likely to react aggressively towards any perceived threat.
 
Fact: Statistics highlight that dog bites are most common in children below 10 years of age and these are likely to occur to the face. ©