In honor of Dog Bite Prevention Week, I’m posting the link to the blog I wrote in December about bites.
http://tailsfromthefield.blogspot.com/2010/12/preventing-dog-bites-dog-bites-and-cat.html
2013年9月28日星期六
Dog Bite Prevention Week
2013年9月26日星期四
May 20-26, 2012 is Dog Bite Prevention Week
30% of children’s bites come from the family dog; another 50% come from the neighbor’s dog.
Have you ever been bitten by a dog? I’ve never been bitten badly but have been nipped by dogs over the years, usually for teasing them. With my own dog, I used to tickle the tips of his ears while he was trying to sleep – an act which frequently earned me a thoroughly disgusted stare – but that’s all.
Not all dogs are so tolerant though, and it’s important to know some do’s and don’ts of how to treat dogs for yourself, for the children in your house and neighborhood, and for the dogs. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) estimates that approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs nationwide each year, and the biggest majority are children. In fact, of kids 18 years old and under, 30% of dog bites are from their family dog. Another 50% of bites are delivered courtesy of the neighbor’s dog.
So what do you do?
Here are a few tips that the AVMA provides to get you thinking about proper care and bite prevention:
- Carefully select your pet. Puppies should not be obtained on impulse.
- Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
- Don’t put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased.
- Train your dog. The basic commands “sit,†“stay,†“no,†and “come†help dogs understand what is expected of them and can be incorporated into fun activities that build a bond of trust between pets and people.
- Walk and exercise your dog regularly to keep it healthy and provide mental stimulation.
- Avoid highly excitable games like wrestling or tug-of-war.
- Use a leash in public to ensure you are able to control your dog.
- Keep your dog healthy. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and preventable infectious diseases. Parasite control and other health care are important because how your dog feels affects how it behaves.
- Neuter your pet.
- If you have a fenced yard, make sure the gates are secure.
With many people, young and old alike, when you see a dog, you just want to pet it. But you really need to consider the situation. If it’s a dog with an owner, ask permission before reaching out. If it’s a dog in a yard, think twice before reaching through or over the fence. If it’s a stray, consider that the dog may not be vaccinated and is probably already scared without you trying to pet it or catch it. And definitely put a stop to it if you see children teasing any dog. (myself included)
If you have questions on dog etiquette or are considering getting a dog with young children in your home, contact a veterinarian in your area to get some answers. The AVMA also offers resources for the public by clicking here. (scroll down under Useful Links) Dogs are fun and should be enjoyed by everyone. Just make sure you have the facts.
2013年9月25日星期三
NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK
In a tradition started by none other than the Postal Service, this week (May 16 to 22) marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The public service campaign was initiated to call attention to one of the nation’s most commonly reported public health problems - dog bites – and offers safety tips, emphasizing the need for increased pet owner responsibility in the prevention of dog bites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Of those, one in five results in injuries that require medical attention. In the latest annual data available, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.
To read more about it,
check out Caesar Milan’s website.
Remember to keep your teefies
off of your postman
and everyone else!!
XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh, Ruairi and Becky
The Cooperative Dog Blog » national dog bite prevention week
It’s fitting that I had the experience I had today while walking with Hawk in Coolidge Corner. Since she came to me at 5 months of age last August, I have posted many photos and entire albums of Hawk’s Socialization Adventures on my Facebook page. Next week, May 20-26, is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. [...]
Posted on Saturday, 19th May 2012
Tags: brookline ma, child & dog safety, dog behavior, dog behavior consulting, dog training, dogs, how to greet a dog, national dog bite prevention week, The Cooperative Dog, The Kids & Dogs Project
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The US Postal Service provides some very sound advice in a News Release today. The USPS has also teamed up with the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and other organizations such as Prevent The Bite to bring awareness to National Dog Bite Prevention Week May 16-22. With  72 million dogs [...]
Posted on Thursday, 13th May 2010
Tags: dog bites, national dog bite prevention week, usps
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2013年9月24日星期二
It"s Dog Bite Prevention Week
It’s that time again! Dog Bite Prevention Week. Held annually in the third week of May, it’s a perfect time to remind ourselves of how to keep ourselves safe from dog bites, and I don’t mean just from vicious dogs – even our own as well.
As the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says, there are 70 million dogs … and any one of them can bite. Sure, you know your own Pookie, Spot, or Frisky better than anyone, but even the most docile dog can bite if put in the right situation. It may not mean to or want to, but a dog that has been injured, stepped on or accidentally hit, or one that just doesn’t want his food messed with during meal times can surprised any family. Let’s look at some tips – and yes, some of them are really obvious – to keep in mind with our four-legged friends.
This also seems like an opportune time to mention that this list is in no way complete. PVMA has a more comprehensive Dog Bite Prevention fact sheet available for download here.
Meeting new dogs
If you see a dog you think you’d like to meet, here are some pointers:
- Ask before you pet. As well as being a courtesy to the owner, it allows them an opportunity to warn you if the dog is unfriendly or aggressive to strangers.
- Ask the owner the dog’s name. Calling the dog by it’s name will help relax it.
- Allow the dog to smell your hand first. Sniffing is like a hand shake for dogs so introduce yourself before you pet.
- Don’t reach for the dog’s head. Many dogs don’t like being pet on the head and could be frightened by a stranger’s hand reaching for their face. Pet the dog on its side, chest, or back.
- Never hug a dog you’ve just met. Many dogs don’t like to be hugged.
Dogs at home
If you have a dog at home, you know its personality better than anyone else, but that doesn’t mean you always know the right thing to do. Here are a few common sense tips that we might not think of to help you and your dog live harmoniously.
- If your dog is eating or enjoying a treat, leave him alone till he’s finished. Even if your dog is not agressive, dogs don’t like to be disturbed while eating and might react aggressively if they think you’re going to take their food away.
- If your dog is sleeping, never hit it or make loud noises to wake it. Dogs that normally are not aggressive may bite or growl if they are scared out of a deep sleep.
Resources
Here are some family-friendly resources to help prevent dog bites which include quizzes and games to help kids learn how to treat man’s best friend.
Puppies’n Dogs
http://www.puppiesndogs.comDog Bite Prevention and Children
http://www.vet.utk.edu/dogbiteprevention/Doggone Safe
http://www.doggonesafe.comDoggone Crazy
http://www.doggonecrazy.ca/bite%20prevention.htm
2013年9月23日星期一
Dog Bite Prevention Week
Did you know that every year more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs? With more than half of these victims under 14? Â Yikes! Check out this brochure from the American Academy of Pediatrics to learn a few tips and tricks on keeping man’s best friend friendly.
2013年9月22日星期日
Dog Bite Prevention Week
How can dog bites be prevented?
Dog bites are a largely preventable public health problem, and adults and children can learn to reduce their chances of being bitten.
Before you bring a dog into your household:
- Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn what breeds of dogs are the best fit for your household.
- Dogs with histories of aggression are not suitable for households with children.
- Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog. If a child seems frightened by dogs, wait before bringing a dog into your household.
- Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a household with an infant or toddler.
If you decide to bring a dog into your home:
- Spay/neuter your dog (this often reduces aggressive tendencies).
- Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.
- Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
- Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling).
- Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.
2013年9月20日星期五
Dog Bite Prevention Week
Monthly Archives: May 2011
How can dog bites be prevented? Dog bites are a largely preventable public health problem, and adults and children can learn to reduce their chances of being bitten. Before you bring a dog into your household: Consult with a professional … Continue reading
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Video: KLN Family Brands with Kenny and Charlie Nelson
Watch a video on KLN Family Brands with Kenny and Charlie Nelson. From our family to yours!
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All in the family
All in the family “In today’s business world there are fewer and fewer family-owned-and-operated manufacturing businesses, especially ones as unique as ours,†says Charlie Nelson, vice president of sales and part of the family that owns Tuffy’s Pet Food. Tuffy’s, … Continue reading
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2013年9月18日星期三
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: Dog Bite Prevention Week
In keeping with Dog Bite Prevention Week, many interesting statistics have popped up in the media.
The U.S. Postal Service has released statistics for the number of dog bites to postal workers in 2010, broken out by city. Houston took the top spot with 62 attacks. Denver, with its long-standing pit bull ban, took the #8 spot, with 31 bites. The fact that Denver would rank so high despite its firm adherence to breed specific legislation is hardly a surprise to those who really understand dog bites. Research by the National Canine Research Council shows that dog bites do not occur due to breed. Rather, the most relevant factors are whether the dog is a “resident†dog (versus a primarily indoor “family†dog), whether the dog is intact, and whether the owner is responsible or properly supervised the dog.
The Insurance Journal also released statistics for the number of and costs related to dog bite insurance claims. State Farm’s data shows that California tops the list for the most dog bite claims, at 369, while Florida has the highest costs per claim, with an average claim of $ 38,356. I cannot resist a big shout out to State Farm, which continues its tradition of refusing to deny coverage based on breed. The one exception even State Farm cannot escape – the state of Ohio, which classifies bully breeds as automatically “vicious.†So where does Ohio fall in the list of dog bite claims? Number 3, with 215 claims, right behind California and Illinois. So much for the efficacy of breed specific legislation.
One group most at risk of dog bites is children. Psychology Today has a great article explaining why children are so at risk, which is due to insufficient supervision by adults, and children’s notoriously bad skills at reading body language. In an effort to address this, and just in time for Dog Bite Prevention Week, Dr. Sophia Yin has provided a poster that you can download from her website on recognizing a fearful dog’s body language.
For other tips on how to prevent dog bites, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association’s site and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s site. You can also find more great information and downloads on Doggone Safe’s site.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week- Preventing Bites in Children
In the first part of our series, we discussed why dogs bite. Today, we’re going to discuss how to prevent dog bites in children. Below are some interesting statistics on dog bites in children:
According to the American Humane Association:
- 50% of dog attacks involved children under 12 years old
- 82% of dog bites treated in the emergency room involved children under 15 years old
- 70% of dog-bite fatalities occurred among children under 10 years old5
- Bite rates are dramatically higher among children who are 5 to 9 years old
- Unsupervised newborns were 370 times more likely than an adult to be killed by a dog
- 65% of bites among children occur to the head and neck
- Boys under the age of 15 years old are bitten more often than girls of the same age
Although adults do often get dog bites, it is blatantly obvious that children are the more likely victims of being bitten or attacked by dogs. Children don’t always have the best manners, and may treat dogs like they would a stuffed animal. The only difference is a stuffed animal can’t cause severe injury or bodily harm! Here are some helpful tips on how to prevent dog bites in children.
The first way to prevent bites or attacks is to never, EVER leave an infant or a young child alone with a dog. If they are left alone and the child is bitten, you have no way to know if the child provoked the attack or if it was unprovoked. It is unfortunate, but if something happens to your child when you’re not there, odds are you will never be able to trust your dog again, and your dog can sense that distrust.
Dr. Sophia Yin
Next, make sure you start educating your children at an early age. Dr. Stacey Kilcullen highly recommends that everyone check out Dr. Sophia Yin’s Website. Dr. Sophia Yin is an internationally acclaimed veterinary behaviorist, and her website has an entire section on dog bite prevention, with a variety of links geared toward preventing dog bites in children. Click Here for a direct link to this section of her website.
When your child meets an unknown dog, always make sure you have your child ask the owner if it’s OK to pet their dog. Asking permission is not only a courtesy to the pet owner, but if the pet is not friendly then a crisis is diverted.
If there is an unknown dog loose in your neighborhood, your child should not run, and especially not scream. Running and screaming will attract the dog, and make the dog more likely to chase them. Instead, stand motionless. The best way to describe this to a child is by telling them to “be still like a tree.â€
Instruct your child to never approach a dog when they are sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. If a dog is woken from a deep enough sleep, it could seriously scare the dog, causing it to lash out and who/whatever happens to be closest. Some dogs are also food aggressive, and if approach while eating may think that you are a threat to their food.
Sources:
http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/dog-bites.html
2013年9月17日星期二
National Dog Bite Prevention Week: Understanding Your Dog"s Signals
It’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and you can help the cause by learning to understand your dog’s warning signs. This week was established by Doggone Safe, an organization devoted to promoting education that can help prevent dog bites and providing support for dog bite victims. The ultimate goal of this week is to help us, the humans, properly understand and communicate with our dogs in ways that can help prevent biting. As Doggone Safe acknowledges, we often misunderstand our pups. When a dog bites, we interpret this behavior in negative human terms, when to a dog, biting is a relatively normal and primal behavior. By learning to understand why dogs are motivated to bite in the first place, we can help reduce the risk that our pet will respond to situations with a bite or other threatening behavior.
Basic knowledge of your dog’s physical behavior can take you a long way towards preventing biting. Our sister organization, Morris K9 Campus, published a blog post in honor of Dog Bite Prevention Week about canine body language and how to read the signs that may lead to aggression.
Watch out for:
- Tail between the legs
- Whites of eyes showing
- Ears back, head down, or teeth bared
- Excessive yawning or licking
- Furrowed or tense brow
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You can also help prevent biting or lashing out by avoiding situations that often make dogs uncomfortable. Avoid surprising your dog, especially while they are asleep, as they may react instinctively and bite. Do not approach a tethered dog or a dog that is chewing on a bone; even if you know the dog well, they may become defensive. Also avoid forcing your dog into a submissive position.
By keeping your dog comfortable and watching for these warning signs, you can help prevent your dog and others’ pets from biting. Though they may be subtle, these signs are a dog’s way of telling us how they are feeling. If you watch for them, you can become more in tune with your dog’s likes, dislikes and overall well-being.
News Moms Need » National Dog Bite Prevention Week
Once when I was a kid, I was riding my bike, and a neighbor’s dog ran out and bit me on the leg. I cried all the way home. I love dogs, but I also respect them.
Next week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Thanks to dog vaccinations  and other public health efforts, rabies is rare in the United States. But it’s still a serious concern. And dog bites can also cause infection and serious injury.
Here’s what you and you family can do to protect yourselves from dog bites:
  * Don’t approach an unfamiliar dog.
  * Don’t run from a dog or scream when you’re around a dog.
  * Be “still like a tree†if an unfamiliar dog approaches.
  * If a dog knocks you down, roll into a ball and lie “still like a log.â€Â
  * Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
  * Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
  * Before petting a dog, let it see and sniff you.
  * Report stray dogs or dogs acting strangely to your local animal control agency.
For more information, read Dog Bite Prevention on the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dog Bite Prevention Week
It is a pity we do not make prospective animal owners take a test of competency, and an instructional course before they are allowed to own a dog. Then again, most of us would benefit from the very same preparation before raising children- and we don’t make anyone do that either!
One of the saddest complications from the human-canine relationship is the dog-bite. Especially when the victim is a child.
It is especially sad when we consider that a dog’s misbehavior is often the result of our own misunderstanding or mistreatment of that animal.
We can’t always understand what makes a dog tick (or ticked off), nor can we predict when to get out of harms way. What we can do, however, is learn as much as we can about our own dogs, and teach our children how to remain safe around their own and stranger’s dogs.
It is estimated (and I am certain that the number errs on the low side given our propensity to forgive the trespasses of man’s best friend) that there are 4.5 million dog bites a year according to the CDC, and the American Board of Veterinary Medicine. It appears that 60% of these reported incidents involve children. Of these bites, those requiring medical attention reach 800,000. Dog maulings ending in a human death occur about 16 times a year.
Emergency room visits for dog bite victims which require the help of a plastic surgeon- either because of the location of the bite, or the age of the patient, or the severity of the incident are numbered at 30,000 times a year. Unfortunately, this represents an 8% increase from the previous year (the good news is that this number is down 29% from 9 years ago!).
With numbers like these it is imperative that we take our dog raising skills seriously.
We can certainly put some effort into educating ourselves, and those around us about properly raising our four footed friends, and most of all into teaching our children how to safely and respectfully behave around dogs.
Safety Tips for Dog Owners:
- Seek a veterinarian’s advice about which dog is right for your family and lifestyle.
- Socialize your dog so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
- Don’t put your dog in situations where it may feel threatened.
- Follow leash laws – don’t let your dog roam free.
- Keep your dog healthy; Illness and pain can make a dog more likely to bite.
- Spay/neuter your dog.
- Confine your dog in a fenced yard when not in the house.
- Never tether or chain your dog.
Safety Tips for Adults and Children:
- Never approach an unfamiliar dog.
- If approached by an unfamiliar dog, stand still like a tree.
- Never run from a dog and never scream around a dog.
- If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.
- If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball, cover your face and stay still.
- Children should never play with dogs unless supervised by an adult.
- Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
- Don’t play with a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
- Children should never approach a dog unless supervised by an adult.
- Adults should never leave an infant or young child alone with any dog, not even the family pet.
If Bitten:
- Seek medical attention immediately.
- Control bleeding and wash the area of the bite with soap and water.
- Because serious dog bites can cause scarring, if you are bitten in a location where scarring is of concern, like your face, ask that a board-certified plastic surgeon treat the injury.
- Report the bite to your local public health department, animal control agency or police.
- Provide authorities with an accurate description of the dog, the circumstances surrounding the bite, and the dog owner’s identity, if known.
Please find more information on the site links below. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -drB
2013年9月16日星期一
National Dog Bite Prevention Week®
Sunday was the start of National Dog Bite Prevention Week®, and Mom already did her part to prevent dog bites by sending Barry and Mel to Pooches’ Paradise during our picnic!  But really, everybody needs to be careful all the time and try to prevent dog bites, not just during this one special week.
Last year I wrote a rather excellent post about dog bites and how to keep them from happening. Â But since this is such an important subject, I think it’s worth writing about again. Â An average of 4.5 million people get bitten by dogs every single year, and one in five of those people has to get medical care. Â This is what happened to Mom when she got bitten by that dog at the shelter last summer, and she had to go to the doctor to get some antibiotics.
The people that dogs bite the most are (1) children, (2) old people, and (3) mail carriers.  So there are all sorts of groups who are helping sponsor National Dog Bite Prevention Week®, including the US Postal Service, the American Veterinary Medical Association, pediatricians, plastic surgeons, and insurance companies.  Also Victoria Stilwell, who has a program on Animal Planet called It’s Me or the Dog, is being part of the campaign against dog bites.  Ms. Stilwell only uses training methods that are based on positive reinforcement.  She feels that if you force dogs to do stuff by yanking on their collars or rolling them over on their backs, you are just making them feel scared and stressed.  Which means they are more likely to bite you.
The USPS is very interested in preventing dog bites because about 10 letter carriers get hurt by dogs every single day. Â The most common way this happens is that a person goes to the door and opens it to take their mail from the carrier, and then the person’s dog rushes out past them and bites the mail carrier. Â So the way to solve this problem is either to keep your door closed when the mail comes or to put your dog someplace safe before you open the door.
The Postal Service put out a list of the top 10 cities where dogs have attacked mail carriers, and guess what! Â The number one city is my own hometown of Houston! Â Of course, this doesn’t exactly make me proud, and I hope you don’t think I’m the kind of girl who would ever bite the mailman. Â But anyway, here’s the top ten list, with the number of bites in each city during 2010:
 1. Houston, TX – 62
 2. Columbus, OH, and San Diego, CA – 45 each
 3. Los Angeles, CA – 44
 4. Louisville, KY – 40
 5. San Antonio, TX, and St. Louis, MO – 39 each
 6. Cleveland, OH, and Phoenix, AZ – 38 each
 7. Minneapolis, MN, and Portland, OR – 35 each
 8. Denver, CO, and Philadelphia, PA – 31 each
 9. Sacramento, CA – 30
10. Seattle, WA – 28
Anyway, like I said in my post last year about dog bites, there are a lot of things you can do to make dogs less likely to bite you. Â But today I want to just talk about what to do when you meet a dog that you don’t know, because a lot of times people get bitten when they are meeting new dogs.
If the dog is with its owner, you should ask if you can pet the dog before you try to do that. Â And even if the owner says it’s okay, you should approach the dog slowly and calmly and watch to see if the dog seems afraid of you. Â Because dogs who are afraid are mostly the ones who bite, since they might think you are threatening.
And also, a dog who is with his human might think the human needs to be protected, and that’s another reason you might get bitten. Â So if the dog is sort of cowering or seems uneasy or especially if it growls, DON’T TRY TO PET IT! Â And don’t have that silly idea that “dogs always like me” and force yourself on the dog. Â
A lot of people, when they are coming up to a new dog, hold out their hand for the dog to sniff. Â And they often tell kids to do this, too. Â Personally, I think this is a dumb thing to do because as I have told you before, dogs have Very Good Noses, so we can smell a person perfectly well without needing to have a hand stuck under our noses. Â And if someone reaches out toward us, it can be kind of frightening, and we might just decide to bite that hand.
The same is true if you reach out to pet a dog on the head, because in dog language, this is a sign of dominance, and some dogs don’t react well to being dominated by someone they only just met. Â So if you are going to pet a new dog, you should do it on his neck or back or side or maybe give him a little scritch under the chin. Â This way, you will not seem like a threat, and the dog will not be thinking about whether to use his weapons of defense.
If you see a dog that is just roaming around loose, without its person, you should be even more careful about how you go up to that dog. Â And this is because a dog that is lost is probably very scared and nervous. Â Except that sometimes a lost dog might be happy to have found somebody to rescue him, and he will be really friendly. Â But you have to know how to read doggy body language so that you can stay safe.
Well, that’s pretty much all I’m going to say right now about preventing dog bites. Â Just remember that ANY DOG WILL BITE if the situation seems threatening enough. Â And just because your beloved, faithful dog has never bitten you, Â that doesn’t mean he might not bite somebody else sometime.
2013年9月15日星期日
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
IT’S NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TEACHÂ YOUR KIDS TO BE SAFE AROUND DOGS?
How to teach your kids to approach unfamiliar dogs safelyÂ
They come in all sizes and shapes
 There is not just one set breed of dogs that you should teach your kids to be safe around. They are all dogs, big or small.
It is important for adults to teach children how to safely approach an unfamiliar dog and how to protect themselves if they come in contact with an unfriendly dog.
According to the Center of Disease Control, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, many of these involving children, with dog bite related injuries highest in 5-9 year olds. It is important to teach children how to approach dogs to keep children safe, to keep your pets happy, and to avoid becoming one of those statistics.
Many dog bites happen at home with our own dogs. It does not mean a pet is mean or aggressive, often; the dog simply becomes over-stimulated by the activity around it or becomes annoyed with continual harassment.
Approaching familiar dogs:
Teach kids how to read dog’s body language. Dogs use body language to communicate with us how they feel. What they like, what they don’t like.
Friendly postures include:
· Ears forward
· Tail wagging and held up
· Relaxed body
Scared postures include:
· Body lowered
· Tail tucked between legs
· Eyes avoiding yours
Threatening and potentially harmful postures include:
· Lowered body
· Hair on back of neck (hackles) standing up straight
· Tail straight out
· Growling
By teaching kids the three postures above, you can ensure that in most cases they will have a good impression on whether the dog is friendly and approachable or not.
Common mistakes that contribute to dog bites
· Do Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
There is truth in the old saying, let sleeping dogs lie. A dog that is suddenly awoken may become frightened and bite out of fear. Dogs are also more territorial and prone to aggression if they are feeding or chewing. Female dogs that are caring for their pups are also more likely to be aggressive. Teach your kids to let sleeping (or eating, or nursing) dogs lie.
· Surprising a dog who cannot hear
· Approaching a dog while eating
· Attempting to take a toy or bone away from a dog
· Teach your child not to pull your dog’s ears, tail or hair
It is a natural instinct for a dog to be protective over his food, belongings, beds or toys. It is imperative to teach children to avoid approaching dogs in these situations. If the child is too young to understand then it is best to keep them away from the dog under these circumstances.
 
· Do Keep Your Hands at Your Sides
Dogs are often intimidated by raised hands, especially if they have been abused. With dogs, fear is often a precursor to a bite attack. Teach your kids to keep their hands down when approached by a strange dog.
· Don’t Tease
Teach your children to not tease or provoke dogs. Dogs can react violently to teasing, even if the child didn’t mean any real harm.
Approaching an unfamiliar dogÂ
When kids see dogs their first reaction is “Look! A dog!†They automatically think of cute and playful.
Teach your kids to quietly walk by without approaching. If there is an owner with the dog, politely ask if it is okay to approach. Many people do not even realize how their dog will act when being approached by a stranger. It is best that the adult approach first just in case this is the case.
· Introduce yourself by approaching calmly and slowly. Extend your hand, palm down, so the dog can sniff.
· Avoid direct eye contact. Eye contact is one of the dominance behaviors used to sort out who is in charge of whom
· Let the dog decide how much contact he wants. If he starts to back away fearfully or anxious, instruct your child to remove their hand, stand up and slowly walk away.
· If the dog is receptive let your child gently pet the dog.
A dog who is giving short, low, repetitive barks while showing a tense or stiff body might be giving an alarm bark. This means the dog is unsure of the situation.
If the dog is doing a mixture of growling and deep barking with increasing intensity and showing aggressive body language, this is a threatening bark.
Do not approach dogs who are exhibiting these behaviors. However, if a dog is barking in a high pitched manner, making eye contact and standing relaxed, or wiggling all over, this dog might be seeking attention or anticipating a fun interaction.
Use the normal precautions such as reading the other body signals the dog is giving, as well as asking the owner for permission, and approach this dog with caution.
What if a strange, ownerless dog approaches you?Â
· The most important thing is to tell children to stay calm and not to run away, but to act like a tree. Do this by planting both feet on the ground, hold your hands in front of you and look downward. Remain motionless. Stay calm. Do not attempt to run from the dog. Do not raise or flail your arms. Do not shout. Running may trigger the dog to chase as this is their natural hunting instinct, and the child may end up injured even if the dog is just playing. Don’t Run, Don’t Scream
· Though it may seem counter-intuitive, “being a tree†is a child’s best protection against a serious injury. Dogs chase things that move but they rapidly lose interest in a stationary object. By “being a tree,†your child will be of much less interest to the dog and he will go away and look for something more interesting to pursue.
Dogs are descended from wolves, and they still have an occasional need to chase down prey. Although running away may be an understandable reaction to a dog attack, fleeing may provoke a dog to chase. Similarly, screams and shouts excite a dog, and may worsen its behavior. Teach your children not to run or scream around strange dogs.
If the approaching dog is staring with tail wagging slowly and ears up, turn and walk away calmly without making eye contact.
If the dog is standing in a threatening or aggressive posture, tell the dog firmly (without yelling) to “Go Home†and back away slowly, avoiding any sudden moves.
If the dog decides to chase or attack, curl into the turtle position (roll up like a stone) and yell for help.
Kids need to be taught that in the worst case, a dog attack, they can use their backpacks, books, bikes, or whatever else they have, between the dog and themselves. Use your backpack while curled up in the turtle position as a shield.
If they are on a bike they can use the bike as a shield in front and around them. Continue to block each bite attempt with their bike.
Many of these techniques can be practiced with your child. Play a game with your child pretending you are a dog that is chasing your child and then show your child how to “be a tree.†Use flash cards or photos to depict a dog that is showing aggression, fear or annoyance and practice with your child to recognize those signs.
What about CATS?Â
Did you know that cats can be just as, if not more so, dangerous than dogs? Yep, that’s right! I am a cat lover at heart and own three of my own. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever went a year without owning a cat since I was a very young child! I like to think that I “think†like a cat, more than a dog.
Cats are not a force to be reckoned with when upset! I urge you to be careful around unfamiliar cats and if your cat shows any signs at all, you may need to see the help of a professional Board Certified cat behaviorist.
Please keep your kids safe around pets! Educate yourself however you can! Thanks pet friends!
2013年9月14日星期六
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
I
n recognition of National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 17-23, 2009), The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) reiterates our belief in training dogs using positive and humane methods. Recent research has shown that the use of aversive training methods can increase aggressive behavior from dogs. The APDT urges dog owners to work with professional trainers schooled in the latest scientific research to create a healthy, happy dog and a safe household.
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the largest professional and educational association for dog trainers in the world, believes that training dogs using positive methods can be a critical part of reducing dog bites in the home and in our communities.
How serious is the problem of dog bites? According to the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.org), approximately 4.7 million Americans are bitten annually, about half of which are children under the age of 12. This figure most likely does not account for many more bite victims who receive injuries that are not serious enough to require medical attention or hospitalization. In addition to human suffering, the cost of dog bites is tremendous. The Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org) has found that one third of all homeowner’s insurance claims are due to dog bites, and recent figures put the cost of dog bites to insurers at $ 356.2 million (2007).
A recent study (Herron M.E. et al. 2009) found that dog owners who used aversive methods when working with dogs with a history of aggressive tendencies were more likely to trigger aggressive responses from the dogs. Such methods included yelling, “alpha rolls,†forced downs, and leash corrections, among others. The researchers concluded that “such interactions create a substantial risk for owners.â€
What should dog owners do when they have a dog at risk of biting? Researchers in the United Kingdom (Hiby E.F. et al. 2004) surveyed training methods used by pet owners and found that “punishment was associated with an increased incidence of problematic behaviors†and therefore “positive training methods may be more useful to the pet-owning community.†The APDT strongly supports this conclusion.
If you are dealing with a dog with aggressive behaviors, the APDT recommends:
Consult with your veterinarian to determine if your dog may have an underlying internal or medical cause that is creating or exacerbating the aggression.
Contact a professional experienced with aggression to work with you and your dog. You can find trainers experienced with aggression listed in the Trainer Search on the APDT web site, www.apdt.com. Only use professionals who use positive methods and are familiar with the science of behavior modification.
Manage your dog’s interactions with household members, especially children, and with strangers while working with a professional to ensure that your dog is not put in a position where he feels he must resort to aggression.
Modifying a behavior problem takes time and effort. Many popular television shows create the illusion that aggression can be cured quickly through techniques based on mental and physical intimidation of the dog. These methods will not alleviate the problem and will likely increase the probability of more bites. Owners with an aggressive dog must realize that solving the problem takes patience, an understanding of your dog’s behavior and needs, and the use of humane training methods.
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.â€
~Will Rogers
Stephanie Bennett
Certified Canine Trainer & Behavior Specialist
Professional Dog Training in Houston, TX
323-573-0727
Representative McCotter and Dog Bite Awareness Week
Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan sponsored a bill entitled House Resolution 419 in 2007. It apparently never got out of committee (bills that aren’t taken up in committee are wiped from the rolls after a legislative session and have to be reintroduced).
McCotter’s bill is here:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:hr419ih.txt.pdf
I don’t think it’s specific enough in terms of penalties. I suggest jail time for owners of dogs, commensurate with the kind of jail time given to an adult human for similar bites. Since the dog owners own the dogs, they are responsible for the bites. If a dog bites a child, then it should be as if the owner him or herself has bitten the child. Reprimanding the dog does no good (can a leopard change its spots?), but the owner can be put in a kennel and the dog destroyed.
The National Postal Service endorsed McCotter’s bill.
While most of us can do nothing about Wall St. and the Madoffs, dog bites should be something we are all aware of, and thinking about all the time. All we need to do is make dogs illegal within homes, and within the limits of any town or village. At least that’s where I would begin. Ultimately, I would like to see a bill that made it illegal for a dog to be within a thousand miles of a human. Penalties would be five dollars per second (cumulative up until a trillion dollars).
This would also help the skyrocketing deficit. Why try to balance the entire budget on the backs of smokers and soda drinkers? Make the dog owners pull their weight.
As a former paperboy, I was bitten on several occasions by anklebiting terriers, chased by German shepherds, and attacked by pitbulls. I carried a baseball bat, and a pellet gun, but it was not enough to deter the wolves. Please make no mistake: dogs ARE wolves. When I see one on the street my heart pounds. I try to figure out an exit plan. Once I fainted and fell down on Main Street when I was approached by a miniature poodle with no apparent leash.
Above is a photograph of a child whose face has been bitten by a pitbull. She is one of 800,000 children EVERY YEAR who require medical attention thanks to dogs and their wolfly qualities.
Thanks to Thaddeus McCotter, the issue has received some attention. If he were to become president, I think we would finally have something done. Vote for Thaddeus McCotter! Save the children of America from the wolves living in our midst and mollycoddled by dog lovers.
I’m sure that in addition to police officers, postal workers, firemen and door-to-door salesmen, we could add cats to the list of those who would support the removal of dogs from within one thousand miles of any human. I support Thaddeus McCotter’s bill, but would add specific penalties that would add some bite to the proceedings. Bite Back, People!
2013年9月13日星期五
May 15-21 is Dog Bite Prevention Week
Dog bites can be prevented by managing both four and two legged companions. Most bites can be easily prevented. Always keep interactions between dogs and humans (especially small ones!) a positive experience.It is always a good idea to be aware of your dog’s body language. Teaching your dog basic manners helps to ensure safe interactions with children. It is also important to teach children how to safely interact with dogs. Dr Sophia Yin has wonderful information regarding canine body language. Click here.
The week of May 15-21 is Dog Bite Prevention week. Dogs and children can become lifelong friends. However, no child should ever be left unattended around a dog. Most children are at a height in which they are at eye level with dogs. If a dog is aggressive or is uncomfortable with interaction and is not properly managed, it can result in a bite.
Our own Poppy’s Place offers information on dog safety. Click here for a great article written by Karen Peak:.
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