It’s difficult to understand why some people don’t like dogs. They’re man’s best friend, our companions and they love us unconditionally. Sadly, many people (especially children) have an aversion to our four-legged friends because of previous negative experiences.
Maybe the dog jumped up at them, growled, barked aggressively or perhaps they were bitten. It’s a sad fact that millions of dog bites are reported each year, with most victims being children, the elderly and of course the mailman. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, you may want to find out more info on personal injury – click the link. A bite from an aggressive dog often means medical treatment and a lifetime of anxiety and unease around dogs big or small.
So, how can we avoid being attacked by a dog? Read on for some simple pieces of safety advice.
Know the signs
As mentioned above, children are most at risk of dog bites. This is because they don’t recognize the signs of distress and aggression from the dog they’re around. If we all know the signs of an impending dog attack then we can remove ourselves from the situation quickly to prevent it escalating. Look out for the following:
- The dog is tense and stiff
- Its ears are pinned back or they’re upright and rigid, like the rest of their body
- The dog is stalking you. If the dog has it’s head down low and is moving with a stiff body as it follows you. This kind of behavior ISN’T playful, it’s aggression.
- The dog is staring at you. Some breeds stare naturally, however, if this stare is coupled with a rigid stance/growling then be wary of an attack
- Growling, baring their teeth and their hackles are raised
Understand WHY a dog might attack you
Knowing why a dog might want to attack, is another way of keeping yourself and your children safe. Are your children (unintentionally) irritating the dog by playing too roughly? Is the dog showing increasingly aggressive signs that it is trying to get away from you/your children? Is the dog eating and are they defensive of their food or certain objects like toys? Are you a guest in the house?
Keeping these things in mind will help keep you and your children safe. You can adjust your behavior and let the dog dictate whether or not it can be approached, played with or interacted with. If you know the owner, always ask if the dog is safe to pet before you approach it!
Final thoughts…avoiding an attack
If the dog is showing clear signs of aggression and you’re worried about a dog bite, then try to remain calm and remember the following pieces of advice.
- Avoid direct contact. If the dog is staring at you, avoid its gaze.
- If you’re approaching an unknown dog in the park and it seems aggressive, change your route and avoid walking directly past it.
- If the dog is timid and is showing signs of fear aggression, then allow it to come to you.
- Remind your children to only pet a dog if the owner says it’s ok.
- Be vigilant around dogs when your children are present and remind your children to be respectful of the dogs’ boundaries.
