April 9-April 15 kicks off National Dog Bite Prevention Month with Dog Bite Prevention Week! According to the AVMA ~4.5 MILLION dog bites occur each year and MOST of these are towards CHILDREN! Dog bites don't just happen "out of nowhere"- this is barring other medical issues such as neurological issues. There are cases out there where an animal will and does attack without warning due to such medical issues but are FAR less common. There are generally signs that are missed which could easily prevent the bite from occurring in the first place. As a Licensed Veterinary Technician I have had a fair amount of Clients bring their dog to us with concerns of aggression after a bite has occurred within the family to either their Child, a Relative's Child, or a Neighborhood Child. They often state "it happened out of nowhere" or "there weren't any signs". As a Veterinary Professional it's my job, along with the Vet, to decipher what happened.
March 2020 saw a 21.6% rise in Dog Bites in that month alone- the number of claims in 2020 decreased by 4.6% but the amount paid for the claims increased 7.1% which was a record high (AVMA)! This was likely due to the upheaval in routine from the COVID-19 Pandemic. In my Clinic we saw a rise in what we dubbed "COVID Puppies" that whole year which lead to a lot of anxiety related issues (including aggression) in many of the young dogs as they aged into 2021 from lack of socialisation. A dog's breed does NOT dictate whether they will be a biter or not. ANY DOG CAN BITE! Most all bites occur during regular, everyday, activities from a FAMILIAR dog.
The AVMA and Family Paws Parent Education, both, have excellent information regarding body language and safety. The AVMA's information is geared more specifically towards Dog Bite Prevention (https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention) whereas Family Paws Parent Education is more generalised to overall Dog and Child Safety (https://www.familypaws.com/dogaware/). Education, attentiveness, recognition, and supervision are all key factors to help prevent bites, especially towards Children. Dogs bite for a variety of reasons- they may be in pain, scared, feeling trapped, over excited, etc. In general, it's a reaction to 'something'.
**Something to remember as well is in order to set your dog up for success you need to socialise often and early as puppies. Crucial socialisation occurs from 3-4 weeks to 14-16 weeks and continuing to provide socialisation into adulthood; this can also be breed specific as some breeds need more socialisation and activity than others (working/ herding dogs are some of the main ones to look out for). Now, with rescues this can be difficult as some rescue older dogs. The process here would be similar to that of a puppy but may take longer and more patience to discover "triggers" or work with past traumas they may have faced as youngsters prior to arriving at a shelter or rescue. Working with your Vet or a trained Behaviorist is advised in these more difficult cases.**
Family Paws has a whole section on being Dog Aware™️ (see link above). They share 4 categories to help educate how to grow your skills to intervene BEFORE a situation escalates.
Body Language- I talk about this one a lot because it's not something a lot of people understand or have even thought about. We can, usually, easily read a person's body language but many people don't think about their Dog's body language. A fun exercise they have for Kids is called Doggy Detective™️ with worksheets to help families identify Dog body language together!
Sensitivities- This could be anything from sights to sounds to tactiles. Some Dogs develop sensitivities as they age, some have breed related sensitivities, and some come into the family with prior sensitivities such as rescue or shelter dogs. Understanding what triggers your Dog can help you better prepare.
Proximity- Similar to sensitivities your Dog's proximity to people or objects can be a problem too. Are they getting backed into a corner, is the vacuum out, are there more kids or people than normal in the house? Did you have to move the kennel near the furnace or washing machine and now it makes random, unexpected, noises your Dog can't escape? By being aware of their space and how it's being used can help provide them with a better feeling of safety.
Supervision- In some of my previous posts I talk a lot about supervision and the different kinds you can do. Being active in the supervision of your Dog and other people, especially children, can help prevent undue stress for everyone! Gates, taking turns in shared spaces, crates/ kennels, or even outside alone time can all be beneficial as well to give Dogs a break from daily life, Holidays, or guests.
Dog bites can be prevented simply by paying attention. If a bite does occur, it shouldn't be taken lightly but, we have to look at the facts before deciding if your Dog is truly aggressive. Situationally there can be many factors leading up to a bite however, child safety should ALWAYS be considered first. Some Dogs simply do not make a good fit with our family dynamic- this can, understandably, be a hard idea to swallow. We love our Dogs as much as any family member but their quality of life also needs to be valued and if they would do better in a household with no or older children then that may be the best fit for them too.
Dare to be Dog Aware™️ this month (and every month!) and check out the AVMA and Family Paws Parent Education for more information or contact your Vet Clinic to speak with a Tech or Vet about how to keep your family happy and safe. If you feel there may be a problem bubbling now is the time to take action. When getting a new puppy factor in time to socialize and discuss with the Vet/ Tech on what steps to take. We want you and your Dog to succeed in the long run. Happy, healthy Pets are what we strive to help you achieve ❤️ #preventdogbites #dogbitepreventionweek
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