Looking for information on preventing and avoiding dog bites? You've come to the right place.

Millions of Americans share their homes with dogs. The vast majority of interactions between people and dogs are happy and benign. But for millions of Americans, the interactions are less positive; every year, an estimated 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs, ranging from minor nips to major attacks.

That's why The Humane Society of the United States works to reduce dog bite injuries. The good news is that dog bites can be prevented. Read our suggestions regarding how you can bite-proof your dog and stay safe around other canines.
 

Avoiding Dog Bites

Q: How can I avoid being bitten by a dog?

A: Never approach a strange dog, especially one who's tied or confined behind a fence or in a car. Don't pet a dog—even your own—without letting him see and sniff you first. Never turn your back to a dog and run away. A dog's natural instinct will be to chase and catch you. Don't disturb a dog while she's sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy, or caring for puppies. Be cautious around strange dogs. Always assume that a dog who doesn't know you may see you as an intruder or a threat.

Q: What should I do if I think a dog may attack?

A: If you are approached by a dog who may attack you, follow these steps:

• Never scream and run.
• Remain motionless, hands at your sides, and avoid eye contact with the dog.
• Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until he is out of sight.
• If the dog does attack, "feed" him your jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog.
• If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around.

Q: What should I do if I am bitten by a dog?

A: If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, try not to panic.

• Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• Contact your physician for additional care and advice.
• Report the bite to your local animal care and control agency. Tell the animal control official everything you know about the dog, including his owner's name and the address where he lives. If the dog is a stray, tell the animal control official what the dog looks like, where you saw him, whether you've seen him before, and in which direction he went.

Q: Can children be taught to avoid being bitten by a dog?

A: Yes, just as we teach our children to practice safety in other situations, we can teach them to be safe around dogs. The most important lessons for children to learn are not to chase or tease dogs they know and to avoid dogs they don't know.

Preventing Dog Bites

Q: Is there any way I can "bite-proof" my dog?

A: There is no way to guarantee that your dog will never bite someone. But you can significantly reduce the risk. Here's how:

• Spay or neuter your dog. This important and routine procedure will reduce your dog's desire to roam and fight with other dogs, making safe confinement an easier task. Spayed or neutered dogs are much less likely to bite.

   

• Socialize your dog. Introduce your dog to many different types of people and situations so that he or she is not nervous or frightened under normal social circumstances.

   

• Train your dog. Accompanying your dog to a training class is an excellent way to socialize him and to learn proper training techniques. Training your dog is a family matter. Every member of your household should learn the training techniques and participate in your dog's education. Never send your dog away to be trained; only you can teach your dog how to behave in your home. Note that training classes are a great investment even for experienced dog caregivers.

   

• Teach your dog appropriate behavior. Don't teach your dog to chase after or attack others even in fun. Your dog can't always understand the difference between play and real-life situations. Set appropriate limits for your dog's behavior. Don't wait for an accident. The first time he exhibits dangerous behavior toward any person, seek professional help from your veterinarian, an animal behaviorist, or a qualified dog trainer. Your community animal care and control agency or humane society may also offer helpful services. Dangerous behavior toward other animals may eventually lead to dangerous behavior toward people, and is also a reason to seek professional help.

   

• Be a responsible dog owner. License your dog as required by law, and provide regular veterinary care, including rabies vaccinations. For everyone's safety, don't allow your dog to roam alone. Make your dog a member of your family: Dogs who spend a great deal of time alone in the backyard or tied on a chain often become dangerous. Dogs who are well-socialized and supervised are much less likely to bite.

   

• Err on the safe side. If you don't know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious. If your dog may panic in crowds, leave him at home. If your dog overreacts to visitors or delivery or service personnel, keep him in another room. Work with professionals to help your dog become accustomed to these and other situations. Until you are confident of his behavior, however, avoid stressful settings.

Q: What should I do if my dog bites someone?

A: If your dog bites someone, act responsibly by taking these steps:

 

• Confine your dog immediately and check on the victim's condition. If necessary, seek medical help.

   

• Provide the victim with important information, such as the date of your dog's last rabies vaccination.

   

• Cooperate with the animal control official responsible for acquiring information about your dog. If your dog must be quarantined for any length of time, ask whether he may be confined within your home or at your veterinarian's hospital. Strictly follow quarantine requirements for your dog.

   

• Seek professional help to prevent your dog from biting again. Consult with your veterinarian, who may refer you to an animal behaviorist or a dog trainer. Your community animal care and control agency or humane society may also offer helpful services.

   

• If your dog's dangerous behavior cannot be controlled, do not give him to someone else without carefully evaluating that person's ability to protect him and prevent him from biting. Because you know your dog is dangerous, you may be held liable for any damage he does even when he is given to someone else.

   

• Don't give your dog to someone who wants a dangerous dog. "Mean" dogs are often forced to live miserable, isolated lives, and become even more likely to attack someone in the future. If you must give up your dog due to dangerous behavior, consult with your veterinarian and with your local animal care and control agency or humane society about your options.

Questions and Answers about Dog Bites

Q: How many dog bites occur every year in the United States?

A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, estimates that nearly 2% of the U.S. population is bitten by a dog each year. This translates to more than 4.7 million people per year, most of whom are children.

Q: How many people die every year as a result of dog bites?

A: Ten to 20 people die every year as a result of dog bites in the U.S. By far, the majority of the victims are children. In a three-year period between 1999 and 2001, 33 people died after being bitten by a dog. A vast majority of these victims (24 of 33) were under 12 years of age.

Q: Why do some dogs bite?

A: There are many reasons why a dog bites. Dogs bite out of fear or to protect their territory or to establish their dominance over the person bitten. Some owners mistakenly teach their dogs that biting is an acceptable form of play behavior. And every year a number of newborn infants die when they are bitten by dogs who see them as "prey." Because dog bites occur for a variety of reasons, many components of responsible dog ownership—including proper socialization, supervision, humane training, sterilization, and safe confinement—are necessary to prevent biting.

Q: Which dogs most commonly bite? Are some breeds more likely to bite than others?

A: The breeds most commonly involved in both bite injuries and fatalities changes from year to year and from one area of the country to another, depending on the popularity of the breed. Although genetics do play some part in determining whether a dog will bite, other factors such as whether the animal is spayed or neutered, properly socialized, supervised, humanely trained, and safely confined play significantly greater roles. Responsible dog ownership of all breeds is the key to dog bite prevention.

Q: How can local laws prevent dog bites?

A: The most effective dangerous dog laws are those that place the legal responsibility for a dog's actions on the owner rather than on the dog. The best laws hold the owner accountable for the bite victim's pain and suffering, and mandate certain corrective actions such as spay/neuter and proper confinement of the dog. For more information on legislation that will effectively reduce dog bites in your community, contact The HSUS. For guidance on developing a dog bite prevention plan in your community, read the American Veterinary Medical Association's A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention.

Q: Is my community's animal care and control agency or humane society affiliated with The Humane Society of the United States?

A: No. The HSUS, the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than seven million members and constituents, is not legally affiliated with local animal care and control agencies, humane societies, or SPCAs. However, The HSUS publishes guidelines and recommendations for their operation and offers guidance and training to animal care and control personnel. The HSUS and local organizations work hand-in-hand on important animal protection issues in your community.

Teaching Your Child to Avoid Dog Bites

Children seem to love dogs with a passion. They just need to learn to love dogs with some caution.

This lesson is critically important for kids. Each year, about 4.7 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs—80% of them by canines we know and interact with regularly—and it's estimated that more than half of those victims are under the age of 13. What's more, children are at least three times more likely than adults to sustain a serious dog-bite.

The good news is that most bites can be prevented. And during National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 16-22, the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education (NAHEE), The HSUS's youth affiliate, is spreading the word to do exactly that: prevent children (and adults) from suffering the sting of another dog bite.

11 Simple Steps for Relating to Dogs

Even the friendliest dogs can be uncomfortable with a child's quick movements and loud tone of voice. Children tend to get excited around dogs, approaching quickly, talking loudly, sometimes even hugging. Any one of these actions can easily result in a bite. So what's a child to do? In a nutshell: Speak quietly and move slowly around dogs, and follow these simple rules:

 

• Before petting someone's dog, ask the person's permission. If it's okay, approach slowly and quietly. Let the dog sniff you first, then pet the dog's sides or back gently.

   

• Never sneak up on or pet a dog who is eating or sleeping. Animals may bite when they're startled or frightened.

   

• Never pet a dog who is playing with a toy. Dogs are often protective of toys, and may think a child is trying to take it.

   

• Never try to pet a dog who is in a car. Dogs will often protect that space.

   

• Never pet a dog who is behind a fence. Most dogs naturally protect their property and home.

Learning to 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.

Although children will most often interact with their family's and neighbors' dogs, they need to know what to do should they encounter an unknown dog, off-leash and without a caregiver. Teach children to avoid such dogs, not make direct eye contact with them, and slowly and quietly walk away. If a strange dog approaches, children should follow these tips:

 

• If you are walking, stop and stand still (like a tree) with your hands at your side.

   

• If you are playing on the ground, lie still on the ground (like a log) with your knees tucked into your stomach and your hands over your ears. When you stay still and quiet like this, the dog will most likely just sniff you and go away.

   

• Never, ever try to outrun a dog. Back away slowly from him instead.

Resources available from NAHEE

How can you ensure that children learn those valuable lessons, and put them into practice? NAHEE offers the following teaching tools to help parents, teachers, and animal care professionals do just that—in a way that will grab children's attention and make learning fun.

 

• The B.A.R.K. (Be Aware, Responsible, and Kind)™ Dog Bite Prevention Program, a video and activity book of lessons, worksheets, and coloring pages proven effective in teaching elementary school-aged children how to behave safely around dogs.

   

• The Play It Safe with Dogs™ Spanish-English coloring book, which teaches young children how to avoid dog bites.

   

• The Doggone Crazy! board game, perfect for teaching the whole family about dog bite safety. Players quiz one another and act out safe behaviors as they race around the board collecting bones. Includes photographs of dogs signaling a range of emotions through postures and facial expressions.

   

• BOW WOW “OW!”: Learning to Be Safe with Dogs, a new 8-minute video with a mix of animation and a real-life setting to hold younger children's attention.

   

• The colorful “Play It Safe with Dogs”™ megaposter, a colorful, oversize poster that illustrates dog body language and all the major rules.

"NAHEE is thrilled to offer such a diverse range of dog bite prevention resources," says Executive Director Bill DeRosa. "Teaching children to behave safely around dogs will not only prevent injuries, but also help to enhance the bond between people and pets."

To order NAHEE's dog bite prevention materials for kids, visit the NAHEE web site or call (860) 434-8666.

Check out hsus.org during National Dog Bite Prevention Week in May for tips on how to "bite proof" your pooch.

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Aggression
Barking
Basic Training Techniques
Caring for Your Dog
Choosing a Dog Trainer
Crate Training
Destructive Chewing
Digging
Dog Toys
Do You Chain Your Dog
Dominant Dogs
Eating Strange Objects
Escaping
Fear of Thunder
Fearful Dogs
Housetraining
How to Use a Head Halter
Introducing Pets to a New Dog
Positive Reinforcement
Puppy Behavior Basics
Puppy Chewing
Puppy Nipping and Rough Play
Separation Anxiety
Stay Dog Bite Free
Submissive and Excitement Urination
Urine-Marking Behavior
Using Aversives to Modify Your Dog's Behavior
Removing Pet Stains and Odors
Dog Who's Left Outside
Dogs and Pickup Trucks Don't Mix