Dog Bite Prevention Program
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1. FACTS.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 40 seconds someone in the United States seeks
medical attention for a dog bite-related injury.
- In 1998 the number of dog’s bites was 4.494.083.
- In 2001, an estimated 368,245 persons were treated for dog bite--related injuries (rate: 129.3 per 100,000 population);
The injury rate was highest for children aged 5--9 years and decreased with increasing age.
For persons aged older than 16 years, approximately 16,476 (7.9%) dog bite injuries were work-related (e.g.,
occurred to persons who were delivering mail, packages, or food; working at an animal clinic or shelter; or doing home
repair work or installations).
The majority (80%) of these dog’s bites were inflicted by a family dog or a neighbor‘s dog.
The solution start with us, the solution it is up to you and your dog. If dog owners care about this problem, and
understand their importance giving an answer to this endemic issue with just some polite words, in the right moment, this
numbers would drop dramatically. You can make a huge difference
Let’s start to be responsible of our influence in the community learning of this so unwanted issue: DOG BITES.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 40 seconds someone in the United States seeks
medical attention for a dog bite-related injury.
- In 1998 the number of dog’s bites was 4.494.083.
- In 2001, an estimated 368,245 persons were treated for dog bite--related injuries (rate: 129.3 per 100,000 population);
The injury rate was highest for children aged 5--9 years and decreased with increasing age.
For persons aged older than 16 years, approximately 16,476 (7.9%) dog bite injuries were work-related (e.g.,
occurred to persons who were delivering mail, packages, or food; working at an animal clinic or shelter; or doing home
repair work or installations).
The majority (80%) of these dog’s bites were inflicted by a family dog or a neighbor‘s dog.
The solution start with us, the solution it is up to you and your dog. If dog owners care about this problem, and
understand their importance giving an answer to this endemic issue with just some polite words, in the right moment, this
numbers would drop dramatically. You can make a huge difference
Let’s start to be responsible of our influence in the community learning of this so unwanted issue: DOG BITES.
2. WHY DOGS DO BITE?
- Millions of year ago dogs were organized in packs with a clear hierarchy that made them worked together to protect
and care for the members of their group. Dogs of well-led packs were often the ones who survived to breed, and passed
on this important instinct to the generations of dogs that followed.
It is this unique “pack instinct” that makes dogs protective and loyal to their owners whom they view as the leader of their
“pack”, and the main reason why upon a threatening circumstance as invasion of their space, challenging behave,
possible harm to them or the rest of their pack (their humans properly socialized and trained.
- Other factors that increase this aggressiveness are:
Medical state.
Early experience.
Being unaltered.
Genetic.
VICTIM BEHAVIOR.
- Dog bites are largely preventable and prevention must situate in two groups of people:
Dog’s owners.
Rest of the community.
- Millions of year ago dogs were organized in packs with a clear hierarchy that made them worked together to protect
and care for the members of their group. Dogs of well-led packs were often the ones who survived to breed, and passed
on this important instinct to the generations of dogs that followed.
It is this unique “pack instinct” that makes dogs protective and loyal to their owners whom they view as the leader of their
“pack”, and the main reason why upon a threatening circumstance as invasion of their space, challenging behave,
possible harm to them or the rest of their pack (their humans properly socialized and trained.
- Other factors that increase this aggressiveness are:
Medical state.
Early experience.
Being unaltered.
Genetic.
VICTIM BEHAVIOR.
- Dog bites are largely preventable and prevention must situate in two groups of people:
Dog’s owners.
Rest of the community.
3. DOG BEHAVIOR AND BODY LANGUAGE.
A dog’s reaction to you depends much more on the dog’s training, environment, and the particular situation you are in,
than on the animal’s size or breed. A small dog with soulful eyes and droopy ears may be just as likely to react
aggressively as a large, powerful one.
Therefore the first step for an enjoyable, friendly, and safe relation with dogs, is to understand the different behaviors
they might show, and their correspondent body language.
Dog’s behavior can be divided into 4 main expressions:
Play.
Submissive/Fear.
Aggressive.
Prey drive.
A dog’s reaction to you depends much more on the dog’s training, environment, and the particular situation you are in,
than on the animal’s size or breed. A small dog with soulful eyes and droopy ears may be just as likely to react
aggressively as a large, powerful one.
Therefore the first step for an enjoyable, friendly, and safe relation with dogs, is to understand the different behaviors
they might show, and their correspondent body language.
Dog’s behavior can be divided into 4 main expressions:
Play.
Submissive/Fear.
Aggressive.
Prey drive.
3.1. Play Behavior:
Body language
• Ears, body and front paws will be in a down position
• May romp back and forth, pick up and run with a toy, or bring the toy to you
• May bark and wag tail
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• A socialized, playful dog of any breed, familiar with humans.
Potential to bite:
• Low, but may jump up, bark and run around.
Body language
• Ears, body and front paws will be in a down position
• May romp back and forth, pick up and run with a toy, or bring the toy to you
• May bark and wag tail
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• A socialized, playful dog of any breed, familiar with humans.
Potential to bite:
• Low, but may jump up, bark and run around.
3.2. Submissive/Fear Behavior
Body language
• Head is down, the ears are back, body may be shaking.
• Looks away and avoids eye contact
• Tail is tucked under its body and the dog may assume a crouched position
• When approached, will try to get away or behind you.
• If cornered, may use a high barking sound or run frantically back and forth
snapping at you.
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• Dogs which were not socialized as puppies little human contact.
• Dogs that have suffered abuse
• Shy dogs that are afraid of loud noises or a strange environment.
Potential to bite:
• High if cornered, low if left alone
Body language
• Head is down, the ears are back, body may be shaking.
• Looks away and avoids eye contact
• Tail is tucked under its body and the dog may assume a crouched position
• When approached, will try to get away or behind you.
• If cornered, may use a high barking sound or run frantically back and forth
snapping at you.
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• Dogs which were not socialized as puppies little human contact.
• Dogs that have suffered abuse
• Shy dogs that are afraid of loud noises or a strange environment.
Potential to bite:
• High if cornered, low if left alone
3.3. Aggressive Behavior
Body language
• Head is up, ears are erect, lips puckered or lifted, and the body is tense
• Stares with direct eye contact
• Tail is up and wagging
• Hair may stand up on back
• When approached, stiffens and may make steps towards you and growl or snarl
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• Guard-type dogs, trained specifically for protection
• Unneutered male dogs, chained or kept in an enclosure with minimal socialization
• Dominant-type dogs who may fight with other dogs and be difficult to train
Potential to bite:
• High in all situations.
Body language
• Head is up, ears are erect, lips puckered or lifted, and the body is tense
• Stares with direct eye contact
• Tail is up and wagging
• Hair may stand up on back
• When approached, stiffens and may make steps towards you and growl or snarl
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• Guard-type dogs, trained specifically for protection
• Unneutered male dogs, chained or kept in an enclosure with minimal socialization
• Dominant-type dogs who may fight with other dogs and be difficult to train
Potential to bite:
• High in all situations.
3.4. Prey Drive Behavior
Body language
• Displays no threatening signals such as growling or hair up on back
• Follows with its eyes and stares
• Lowers its body and stalks with slow wagging tail
• Will often target and chase a moving object such as a bicyclist,
jogger, or car,
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• Dogs which are kept in a fenced or enclosed area and allowed constant visual
contact with passersby.
• Hunting-type dogs which are trained to track or retrieve.
• Assertive dogs which may be possessive of food, toys and family.
Potential to bite:
• High if threatened or when in pursuit of moving object.
Body language
• Displays no threatening signals such as growling or hair up on back
• Follows with its eyes and stares
• Lowers its body and stalks with slow wagging tail
• Will often target and chase a moving object such as a bicyclist,
jogger, or car,
Most common type of dog displaying this behavior:
• Dogs which are kept in a fenced or enclosed area and allowed constant visual
contact with passersby.
• Hunting-type dogs which are trained to track or retrieve.
• Assertive dogs which may be possessive of food, toys and family.
Potential to bite:
• High if threatened or when in pursuit of moving object.
4. What to do if:
4.1. The dog jumps at you and attempts to bite:
• Stop and present the soft object for the dog to grab
• Shake and pull the object while the dog is grabbing it and slowly back away to safety
• Once you near your vehicle, let the dog have the object as you retreat to your vehicle
4.2. You have no object to distract the dog, and the dog bites or jumps on you:
• Stand quietly… do not kick or attempt to hit the dog
• Place your hands in fists around your head and neck for protection
• Slowly, with your side facing the dog, walk to safety
You are knocked down by the dog:
• Lie quietly in a fetal position
• Place your hands in fists around your head and neck for protection
• Remain in this defensive posture until the dog goes away or you are rescued
You are chased while jogging or bicycling:
• Stop all movement. Do not run or shout
• If on a bicycle, dismount and put the bike between you and the dog
• Assume the side posture and slowly back away from the dog to safety
4.1. The dog jumps at you and attempts to bite:
• Stop and present the soft object for the dog to grab
• Shake and pull the object while the dog is grabbing it and slowly back away to safety
• Once you near your vehicle, let the dog have the object as you retreat to your vehicle
4.2. You have no object to distract the dog, and the dog bites or jumps on you:
• Stand quietly… do not kick or attempt to hit the dog
• Place your hands in fists around your head and neck for protection
• Slowly, with your side facing the dog, walk to safety
You are knocked down by the dog:
• Lie quietly in a fetal position
• Place your hands in fists around your head and neck for protection
• Remain in this defensive posture until the dog goes away or you are rescued
You are chased while jogging or bicycling:
• Stop all movement. Do not run or shout
• If on a bicycle, dismount and put the bike between you and the dog
• Assume the side posture and slowly back away from the dog to safety
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