Dog bite safety: preventing dog bite injuries fatalities

Reducing your risk

Dogs are highly territorial animals who feel a strong instinct to defend their territory. A dog will usually see its owner’s house and yard as its territory; also, when a dog is in a car, the car becomes part of its territory. Many dog attacks occur when a dog feels threatened on its territory. The Humane Society of the US’ recommendations for avoiding dog attacks include:

• Never approach a strange dog, especially one who's tied or confined behind a fence or in a car.
• If a dog is with its owner, always check with that person before approaching the dog.
• Don't pet a dog—even your own—without letting him see you and sniff you first.
• Never turn your back to a dog and run away. Dogs are hunters, and their instinct will be to chase and catch you.
• Don't disturb a dog while she's sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy, or especially, when she’s taking care of her puppies.
• Be cautious around dogs you don’t know. Always assume that a dog who doesn't know you may see you as an intruder or a threat.

If a dog approaches you and you believe that it may attack you, you should remain motionless, hands at your sides. Do not scream or run. Avoid eye contact with the dog; look at its paws instead, because the dog may experience eye contact as a challenge. Your intention is to allow the dog check you out, and hopefully, decide that you’re harmless. Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until he is out of sight.

If the dog does attack, put anything you have with you—your bicycle, jacket, gloves, backpack, purse, cane, or anything else between yourself and the dog. If you fall or the dog knocks you to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around. You want the dog to lose interest in you.

Never try to separate dogs that are fighting.

Dog safety for children

It’s especially important to teach young children to behave safely around dogs. All the safety tips listed above can be taught to young children. They can also learn that dogs can startle easily, and that they should talk softly and move slowly around a dog. They should be shown the safe way to approach a dog, slowly, making sure the dog sees them, offering an outstretched hand for the dog to smell. Children can learn that they should never tease or chase a dog they know, and that they should avoid dogs they don't know.

The Humane Society offers this advice to parents about teaching children to read dogs’ body language: understand dogs' body language is another important way to avoid being bitten. Teach children that animals use body language to tell us how they feel. When a dog is angry or fearful, she is likely to bite, and should never be approached. Here are the signs to look for:

• An angry dog may try to make herself look big: ears standing up, the fur on her back standing on end, and tail straight up (it may be wagging). She may bare her teeth and growl, and stare straight at whoever is approaching.
• A frightened dog behaves differently, and may shrink to the ground, put his tail between his legs, and fold his ears back.

The American Veterinary Medical Association advises parents to start early in teaching children about safe behavior with dogs. Even toddlers need to know not to approach strange dogs, and to treat their own dog with respect and kindness. Because children are the most frequent victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.

What to do if you’re attacked and bitten by a dog

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that as soon as possible, the dog bite wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and warm water. Contact your physician or go to an emergency room for additional care and advice.

Report the bite to your local animal care and control agency. Tell the animal control officer everything you know about the dog. If you know the owner's name and/or address, be sure to report these. If you believe the dog is a stray, tell the animal control officer all that you can about what the dog looks like, its size, where the attack happened, whether you've seen this dog before, and after the attack, in which direction he went.