Bite Prevention and Safety

What to do around a loose dog

Going for a walk, jog, or even a bike ride and see a dog that’s loose?

1) If you see a dog that is loose in the distance, do not try to approach it or call it to you. Just keep a close eye on the dog and watch its movement and behavior. If you’re out for a jog or on your bike, the best thing to do is slow to a walk or get off your bike and walk past that dog until you’re at a safe distance from him chasing after you.

2) Even if a loose dog seems friendly, especially if the owner’s are outside with it, never assume that you can pet it. If a loose dog approaches you, stop and wait for the dog to loose interest in you before walking on.

3) Never run from any dog at any time! When you run the dog’s natural instinct to chase comes out. And since they have four legs and you have two you will never out run them.

4) If a loose dog does approach you, stand still and do not stare at them or look in their eyes. Staring at them will cause confrontation which will likely push them into attack mode. Just fold your arms and keep them in your peripheral vision. They will eventually loose interest in you and walk away.

5) Never scream or yell at a dog. To them it just sounds like you are barking at them and their natural instincts of protection will come out. If you are yelling at them to go home they will take that as a confrontation which will likely lead to an attack.

6) If a dog does attack you knocking you to the ground or you loose your footing and the dog comes after you, quickly and quietly curl up into a fetal position, protecting your neck, face and chest. Keep your hands clenched into fists. Do not yell or kick at the dog. These will just further his attack thinking of you as a moving target. Most dogs will not attack you unless they are provoked by movement or yelling.

7) Not sure what the dog is really saying? A wagging tail or panting tongue does not always mean that dog is friendly and ready for a pet. A dog that goes into a bowing position does not mean it’s ready for an attack. Do some research into a dog’s body language to be sure that you are interpreting his looks correctly. This will help to prevent confrontation and attacks.

Going to a cook-out
Going over to someone else’s house for a party and they happen to have a dog? The following tips will help you prevent any kind of confrontations that may lead to a bite.

1) Let sleeping dogs lie. If you see a dog that is sleeping, do not try to wake it or pet it. Sometimes dogs will go into protection mode and snap out at someone that startles them.

2) If you see a dog eating their food or chewing on a bone or treat, never try to take that away from them. If they are eating something they shouldn’t alert the owner to take care of the situation.

3) Never taunt a dog with food; whether they are allowed to have it or not. Some dogs are not tolerant of being teased and they will bite to get what they want.

4) If you are playing with a dog and they start to become too aggressive during play, drop the toy for play time is over. When they become too excited they might go for your hand or arm and accidently bite you.

5) Never pick up a dog that may not know you. Some dogs are sensitive about being picked up or certain parts of their body being touched, such as ears, feet, and tail. The best place to pet a dog for the first time is under the chin and then their back if they let you. If a dog doesn’t want you to pet them, then leave them alone.

6) If a dog approaches you and starts to sniff you everywhere, even areas you may not want them to sniff you, let them do it. This is their way of getting to know who you are. If you are uncomfortable around the dog, ask the owner to put the dog up while you are there until you feel better about their presence.

7) If you see a dog that is in a pen or kennel, or tied to a post or tree in the back yard, do not try to pet that dog without talking to the owner first. Dogs that are confined to a kennel or tied to a tree is very protective over their territory and usually do not want anyone invading it. If the dog growls, barks, or other shows any other signs of aggression, back away and leave it alone.

8) Before petting any dog, ask the owner about their dog’s behavior first. Be sure that the dog will be friendly by allowing them to sniff you first. If the owner says that the dog will not bite, allow the dog to continue to sniff you. Watch their body language. If they freeze up and stare at you, back off. If they wag their tail and even lick you then you may pet. Be sure that you pet them on their chin rather than on their head. Some dogs are sensitive about a hand approaching their head and might become scared which can lead to a snap. If the dog likes you, you may continue to pet. If they do not, back off.

9) Never get face to face with any dog but your own. Some dogs take this as a threat and will become scared. This will sometimes lead into a snap and sometimes even a hard bite to the face.

10) Try to avoid getting in between two dogs if there’s food or toys around you. Two dogs might get into a fight over these items with you caught in the middle. Do NOT try to break up the fight with your hands. They can grab a hold of your hand thinking it’s the other dog. Sometimes the attack can switch from each other to you thinking you’re also trying to take away whatever they are fighting over.