Content
- 1. When the dog is not yours
- 2. Listen to the tutor's instructions
- 3. Dogs don't always like kisses and hugs
- 4. Don't overexcite the dog
- 5. Avoid using your body to stop a dog's aggression
- 6. Avoid misunderstandings
- 7. Pay attention to warning signs
- 8. Don't overtake yourself
- 9. Never bother or mistreat a dog
- 10. If it looks like a dog is going to attack you...
A dog bite, especially if it's from a medium-sized or large dog, can be quite serious, even more so if we're talking about children. The most serious bites can cause wounds and injuries and even putting people's lives at risk.
If you are not familiar with canine language, knowing how to prevent a dog from biting you will not always be easy, for this reason at PeritoAnimal we will give you 10 tips to avoid dog bite, tips that you can put into practice both with your own and with strangers.
1. When the dog is not yours
Due to the trust and the bond, it is possible that we manipulate our dog in every possible way. However, it is a very common mistake assume that any dog will tolerate the same as ours. If you are volunteering at an animal refuge or getting to know your best friend's dog, heed this advice.
2. Listen to the tutor's instructions
many dog bites could be avoided if everyone paid attention to the dog's tutor's directions. How many times have we told someone not to do something and he ends up doing it anyway? If the pet's guardian is asking you not to give food or not to excite the dog, is for some reason. And remember, even though it's not related to aggression, an action on your part can jeopardize the work of weeks.
3. Dogs don't always like kisses and hugs
It is it's not a general rule, since many dogs are so well associated with this type of displays of affection that they accept it without problems. Hugs and kisses are signs of love and affection used by humans and apes, but they can be invasive and even aggressive for most dogs.
Hugs and kisses on the dog's face are among the main causes of bite, especially if accompanied by the dog's immobilization. The best way to show your dog affection, mainly to an unknown dog, is caressing his chest or the sides of his neck.
4. Don't overexcite the dog
With the exception of particularly calm puppies, hyper excitation causes a significant decrease in the self control from them. For this reason, it's likely that if we're playing biting and overexciting the dog, we'll end up falling victim to a bite.
5. Avoid using your body to stop a dog's aggression
If you take a dog that is reacting violently or close to him, be careful and never put a leg (or any part of your body) in the middle to stop the dog, this can cause him to redirect the bite to some area of your body.
The best you can do when walking your dog is to hold him firmly (without choking him) at a safe distance from your body, with a short leash if necessary. On the contrary, if the dog is loose, it is best to stop the episode with a jet of water with a pressure water hose.
6. Avoid misunderstandings
sometimes the our own body language can be perceived negatively by a dog. Something as insignificant to us as blowing in the face, staring for a long time, playing on top of it, can be interpreted as threatening behavior. Avoid using them.
7. Pay attention to warning signs
If, on the one hand, some signs of calm are very easily confused, such as grinding your teeth, turning your back or yawning, others are easy to identify: we are talking about show teeth, growl or bark. If a dog warns you, don't ignore it, stop doing what is bothering the pet.
It is important that you are able to interpret the dog's language and the signals it gives you.
8. Don't overtake yourself
There are many dogs that suffer from pain, discomfort or are simply not used to being handled. In these cases it will be better avoid touching certain parts of the body that can make the dog feel uncomfortable.
Examples might be touching an elderly dog's hip, putting your fingers in its mouth, ears or nose, pulling its tail, or picking at a tangle of fur. Especially if the dog is not yours, the best is be non-invasive and predictable.
9. Never bother or mistreat a dog
If you decide to annoy or treat a dog, especially a stranger, be prepared to receive a warning, or in the worst case, a sizeable bite.
When dogs come across something they don't like, they have two options: run away, be quiet, warn or attack and if we are in the presence of dogs with little self-control, dogs that have bitten before, or are very confident in themselves, the most likely answer will be the latter. Avoid interrupting dogs when they are sleeping, feeding or protecting something (toys, bones, etc).
10. If it looks like a dog is going to attack you...
If a dog barks and shows signs of aggression, it's likely that he's just thinking about running away in a hurry, but that's not always a good idea: the dog will always outrun you.
In these cases, it is best to stay quiet, with your arms close to your body and avoid looking the dog in the eye. For most dogs this indicates that you are not a threat. When he stops growling, it's time to start walking away slowly, without looking at him or turning your back.
We hope the tips on how to avoid dog bite will help you avoid getting bitten in the future! Do you have any more tips? Write your tricks in the comments!