Preventing dog bites and attacks

This article is NOT breed specific.  Dogs are pack animals.  If you own more than one dog, then you already have a pack.  If you only have one dog, then your human family is the dog’s pack.  A single dog is more likely to become aggressive and protective over humans in the pack and territory.  Multiple dogs can become aggressive just because they are excited and they feed off of each other’s energy.  Humans do the same thing.  That is how riots happen. 
    
Children are more likely to be harmed by dogs.  The child could be seen as an intruder to the “pack”.  The child could be seen as prey, especially if the child is loud, screaming, crying or running.  The child could be seen as a lower member of the pack and the dog feels the need to “reprimand” or “teach” a lesson. 
    
A child can easily be killed by a single dog if that dog has the strength as it can by a pack. Leash laws are so important because it keeps dogs home and under control.  If your sweet family dog meets up with another dog while loose, they just formed a pack.  If that other dog begins chasing and biting people, your dog will do it too.  And your dog may like it and could feel motivated to be “bigger and badder” and turn it up a notch. 
    
All dogs can bite.  I do hate hearing the phrase “my dog would never bite.  My dog loves kids.  My dog would never kill a cat, he lives with cats.”  Your dog is a dog. No matter what breed, he was a wolf descendent, a predator, a pack animal and has teeth. 
    
Just because we do not understand why or how, just always know your dog can justify it in his doggie mind and will do things that you did not expect.  We all can not have Cezar Milan save our dogs, but we all can do simple these things to ensure we are pack leaders. 

• Spay/neuter your dog.  Remove biological and hormonal reasons for aggression. Mating times and/or mother dogs with pups cause attacks on both strangers and family members.
• Confine your dog.  Allowing your dog to wander expands the dog’s territory that it must protect. Also you can not control the dog if it chooses to protect the sidewalk in front of your house, when the next jogger comes by. Keeping control of your dog puts you in the driver’s seat and the dog will respect you.
• Do not allow or force people that are nervous about your dog/dogs to interact with them.  Especially do not leave them in charge of the dogs or alone with the dogs. Dogs know when they are in charge of a situation or not.  Even the calmest sweetest dog can get an ego boost by snapping at someone or bullying someone.  I hear “he’s never done that to anyone before” often. Different people get a different reaction from the same dog.  Most dogs hate your mailman.  Two reasons: he is nervous about dogs and he comes often and the dog barks and “makes him leave”, in that doggie mind.  It’s another ego boost thing.  They think they saved the family from that “evil” mailman again. 
• This may be hard for some people, but DO NOT TREAT YOUR DOG LIKE A HUMAN!  If your dog has the size and strength to harm someone you need to be in control.  Teach basic commands, Sit, Stay, Come, Down, Leave it, release.   If your dog is showing aggressive tendencies, do not let him on the furniture.  You need to send a clear message that you are the alpha and he is not an equal.  Crate training is wonderful.  This gives you a tool for housebreaking, preventing chewing and you control the dog and he will learn self control.  The crate is also a great place to put the dog if a nervous visitor comes over or if children come over.  This gives your dog a safe place.
• Know your dog and do not be in denial. Know if your dog is a resource guarder or not.  If you have a large powerful dog and it gets aggressive over toys, food or space, you have a dangerous dog.  I do not recommend children living in the same home. It only takes one snap to require plastic surgery or worse. Most of us have had a small dog with this problem.  A small dog with this issue is not likely to kill or maim someone.  If you are an alpha pack leader then remember to keep the kids safe.  I do not give foster dogs toys, treats or food near my kids.  They are given in their crate.  That way, they have it at their leisure and do not have to “fight” for it. 
• Never leave kids alone with a dog, EVER!  Kids running in grass and being loud sounds like prey.  You may trigger an attack.  Kids that run are caught with teeth. Dogs may feel protective of your kids, but feel outside kids are a threat and attack. If your dog perceives you as hurting the kids, he may bite you too.  Pay close attention if you are horsing around and the kids start yelling.  Stop any protective behavior.   You do not want the dog taking over the situation. 
• Don’t try to handle a stray dog.  You do not know its limits and something you do could set it in motion to bite.  

I really hope this helps you recognize the potential your dog has and prevents someone from getting hurt.  If you have any question or concerns, please call 859.635.2819
 
Submitted by: Terri Baker
Animal Control Officer