How To Avoid Dog Bites

Our four-legged friends not only stand out for their loyalty to the man or their sometimes excessive barking. Sadly, they sometimes make the news because they’ve bitten a person, causing serious injuries or even death. But is it possible to prevent the dog from biting?

why dogs bite

Let us agree that if a dog bites or tries to do so, it is because it is scared and it is the way it finds to defend itself, regardless of its size or breed. Although the longer the hairy’s jaw, the more damage it can do.

And even though it is widely publicized that animals classified as “potentially dangerous” are more likely to attack, the truth is that the fault is not the dog, but the owner, who “educates” him to have this type of behavior.

The environment in which a dog grows up, the treatment it receives and the way it is socialized and trained greatly influence its behavior and the possibility that the animal has a tendency to bite.

Furry and Biting Data

Dog bites are not a minor issue. Therefore, it is important to avoid them with a correct education, both canine and human.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data:

• Mortality rates from this cause are the highest in low- and middle-income countries. The reason is inadequate or non-existent medical attention.
• Children are the main victims and are at serious risk, because of their height, of suffering head or neck injuries.
• About 50% of animal injuries to travelers are caused by dog ​​bites.

How to prevent your dog from biting

What can we do to prevent the dog from biting? Many things. For example, if he’s still a puppy, you should teach him not to bite when he’s playing.

It is perfectly normal for dogs of a certain age to use their mouths to explore their surroundings and nibble on everything  in front of them.

But it  is necessary to make the little ones understand that this action can hurt. Like? Watch what another puppy, a playmate, does when he is bitten: he complains about the pain he feels.

So  when your furry is biting you gently and gets more excited, taking a hard bite, make him understand that it hurts. Scream Ooo!!! and abandon the game. It’s the best way to make the little animals understand that, with this attitude, they hurt us, and start to control the bite.

Proper education and socialization: keys for furry ones not to be aggressive

But the fundamental points to prevent the dog from biting or showing other aggressive behavior are the correct socialization and the love they receive.

A dog that grows up in a “friendly” environment and in contact with other animals and people will certainly be a fearless adult with a balanced personality. Under these conditions, it is difficult for him to react by trying to bite.

On the contrary, the greatest possibility of aggressiveness occurs in animals that:

• receive physical punishment
• They remain trapped, isolated or are outside the house all the time
• are humanized to the extreme

What You Should Know to Prevent a Dog from Biting

In addition to educating and socializing dogs, we must also learn the correct way to behave towards them. In this sense, it is essential:

• Know the furry body language,  to identify the signs that could indicate a possible attack.
• Know how to behave around unknown animals that are likely to be aggressive.

• Explain to children how they should treat their four-legged friends.  Remember, you shouldn’t let them loose with them, especially if they’re too young.

In this way, trying to understand our furry ones, we will be able to avoid many unpleasant situations that can end in a bite.