| Page Title |
| Avoiding Dog Bites |
| Greeting Strange Dogs When two dogs meet for the first time, they always approach from the side. Dogs very seldom make eye contact as this is seen as a sign of aggression. When approaching from the side, the dogs end up butt to butt. This is perfectly normal doggy etiquette. It is how they introduce each other. Translating this behavior for human’s means when you meet a strange dog for the first time: 1. Do not rush up to it. Allow the dog to approach you. Consider how you feel when meeting a stranger for the first time. Now imagine that stranger is two stories high. 2. Do not put your hand out for the dog to sniff. Dog’s sense of smell is 4 to 5 log10 unit better than ours. They know everything about you before you approach. Adults are bitten most often on the hands or upper arms. (Children most often get bitten on the head because they are on the dog’s level. One should teach these rules to children, especially cautioning them not to get down on their hands and knees with a strange dog as this puts them on eye level. Remember to a dog this is an aggressive act.) 3. Do not stare at the dog. 4. Speak to it in low, soothing tones. 5. Do not bend down over a dog or reach to pet the top of its head. This is how one dog demonstrates dominance over another, by laying its head across the shoulders. When the dog has accepted you, reach under the dog’s head to pet it. This is much less threatening. 6. Never RUN from a dog, especially an aggressive dog. 7. All dogs give warnings that they are going to bite. These are: Rigidity of the body with a raised and flagged tail (this may appear to be a wagging tail but it is not a friendly wag) Body hair may be raised and the dog will make himself look larger A deep bark Lunging toward the individual without contact (if a dog is lunging and barking do approach it) Mouthing with no bite Hitting the person with the nose Growling Wrinkled forehead, with puffed out lips, ears are pulled back Showing the teeth (the lips will be pulled upwards, exposing the teeth, the muzzle will be wrinkled, when preparing to bite the corners of the mouth will be pulled back exposing the back teeth as well) Growling while showing the teeth Snapping Nipping Nipping with breakage of the skin A pressurized bite A puncturing bite Repeated bites Bite and shake All dogs are not Golden Retrievers. Many are reserved and while not aggressive are not overly warm toward people they don’t know. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONAL. After all do you feel warm and fuzzy to everyone you meet! |
| Recommended Reading What Your Dog Knows-Instinct Vs. Environment D.V.Ball (contact author for Copy) |
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| Nonfatal Dog Bite--Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments --- United States, 2001 In 1994, the most recent year for which published data are available, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occurred in the United States, and approximately 799,700 persons required medical care (1). Of an estimated 333,700 patients treated for dog bites in emergency departments (EDs) in 1994 (2), approximately 6,000 (1.8%) were hospitalized (3). To estimate the number of nonfatal dog bite--related injuries treated in U.S. hospital EDs, CDC analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP). This report summarizes the results of the analysis, which indicate that in 2001, an estimated 368,245 persons were treated in U.S. hospital EDs for nonfatal dog bite--related injuries. Injury rates were highest among children aged 5--9 years. To reduce the number of dog bite--related injuries, adults and children should be educated about bite prevention, and persons with canine pets should practice responsible pet ownership Read Rest of Article At the CDC by clicking on the smiling dog. |
