Dogs have long been referred to as “man’s best friend,” but that doesn’t always mean that every canine will be friendly. Dog bites can happen, and not only are they very painful to experience, but should you decide to sue the owner, the process can be tedious.
So how can you prevent dog bites from happening?
Why do dog bites happen?
Canines can bite people for various reasons, but the main idea to keep in mind is that most bites are reactionary. Scared, startled or threatened dogs will likely bite anyone who spooks them. Dogs will also bite to protect something precious, such as their puppies, toys or food.
Dogs can also bite people when they get overly excited during play.
What can you do to prevent bites?
Short of avoiding every dog you meet, there are some simple ways to prevent getting bitten:
- Consider the dog’s temperament – When selecting a dog as a family pet, you should choose one that’s not likely to bite you. Talk to the breeder to understand which dogs are sociable and easy to train.
- Don’t leave your dog alone with children – Children love to play with dogs, but it can lead to bite injuries without supervision. Always watch whenever your children and pets are in the same room.
- Don’t disturb your dogs – Whether your dog is eating or trying to feed its puppies, don’t try to scare them, as they might see your actions as aggressive and would try to react by biting.
- Approach dogs slowly and carefully – If you must approach a dog for any reason, move towards it slowly so as not to provoke it. Also, consider having the dog come to you instead.
- Avoid trying to run away and scream – Behavior such as running away and screaming could aggravate a dog enough to make it bite you. It would be best to avoid eye contact with the animal and calmly move away.
Remember that dogs are like people; expect an aggressive response if you do anything hostile. Dog bites can lead to severe injuries, grievous wounds, and in some cases, a rabies infection. Dog bite injuries can be expensive to treat. While there are legal recourses you can take to claim on your injuries, prevention still is the best cure.
