National Dog Bite Prevention Week

May 20 to 26 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week and the American Veterinary Medical Association notes that some 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year with one in five bites requiring medical attention. Children are the most common victims and most of these bites occur during everyday activities while interacting with familiar dogs. 

Dr. Barbara Sherman, an specialist in animal behavior with Veterinary Health and Wellness Center at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, says many dog bites can be prevented and that successful bite prevention focuses on both “people behavior” and “dog behavior.” 

Selection. The goal is to select the dog well suited for your family and your lifestyle. If selecting a puppy from a breeder, find a breeder who values good temperament. Ask to see the parents and select a puppy whose parents behave as you’d like your grown-up puppy to behave. Pass up puppies whose parents are aggressive or fearful.  If you are choosing a puppy from a shelter, ask if staff members knew the mother-dog’s behavior. Do not select a puppy on impulse. If selecting an adult dog, observe its behavior is many different situations. Many breed rescue groups offer dogs who have lived in foster homes where the caregiver can discuss the dog's behavior.

Socialization. Puppies handled gently and exposed to many positive experiences during the critical "socialization period" (3-14 weeks of age) are less likely than unhandled puppies to show fear and aggression when they become adults. Puppies that are not well socialized are likely, as adult dogs, to be fearful of strangers and to display "keep away" aggression toward them.  This experience is so important that many animal shelters now provide socialization experiences for puppies. Children and puppies should be well supervised so that puppies have positive and not frightening  experiences with children. Frightening experiences can give the puppy (and adult dog) cause for wanting to keep children away, using aggression. READ MORE