Every year well over 4 million people are bitten by dogs. While some of these bites may be minor, others can leave serious injuries or even death. If you own a dog which bites someone, you could find yourself in legal trouble. If it kills someone, you could end up behind bars. While I don't want to scare you away from owning a dog, there are some things you will want to do to make sure your dog doesn't bite you or others.
The first thing you want to do is never approach strange dogs. Even if the dog is behind a fence or tied up, it could see you as being a threat. You should also keep your own dog away from other strange dogs. It could be injured or killed if the strange dog decides to attack it. You should also avoid petting your dog without letting them sniff your hand first so that they know who you are. Under no circumstances should you run from a dog. Dogs are natural predators, and will almost always chase you unless they're trained.
When a dog is eating, sleeping, or caring for its young, it is best not to startle or disturb them. They may snap at or bite you. It may be necessary to neuter your dog if it is going around and getting into fights with other dogs constantly. You can also take your dog around others to keep it from being nervous when in the presence of people it is not familiar with. Dogs should also be trained not to chase anyone. This is one of the most common things which leads to a dog biting someone. You should also give your dog rabies vaccinations, and never allow it to go places without your supervision.
If you should be attacked by a dog, the first thing you want to do is remain calm. If you panic you are likely to make bad decisions. You will also want to wash the wound as soon as possible. Use soap and water and contact your doctor as soon as you can. Contact the animal care agency in your area and let them know that you have been bitten. Describe the dog and where you encountered them. Let them know what direction you think the dog went in.
Being the owner of a dog which likes to bite is a serious issue. You can avoid biting by training the dog while they're young. Once they get older, it will be difficult or impossible to get them to follow your commands, and if they bite somone else, you could be in a lot of trouble.
Michael Colucci is a technical writer for
Free Dog Training and
Dog Care
