National Dog Bite Prevention Week®️ is April 7th – 13th, 2018. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 4.5 million dog bites occur each year. According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog attacks accounted for almost $700 million in homeowner’s liability claims in 2017. If you are a dog owner, it is important to spend this week educating yourself to help prevent dog bites at all costs.
Most people expect large dogs to be more aggressive than small dogs, but any dog can bite when placed in vulnerable or high-pressure situations.
It is also important to realize that normally well-behaved dogs can bite when they are scared or defending something, such as their food, owners, or puppies. Even if the dog’s aggressive behavior has an identifiable trigger, the dog may still be abandoned or euthanized after an attack. These heartbreaking scenarios can be avoided through proper dog bite prevention training.
According to Victoria Stilwell, one of the world’s most recognized dog trainers, it is also important to pay attention to a dog’s body language to prevent an attack or bite. If you can tell that a dog is uncomfortable or frightened, it is crucial to stop what you’re doing and back away from the dog.
Experts at American Humane state that most dog bites occur because owners neglected to train their pets. It is important to train dogs while still young, so they are less likely to attack when placed in a vulnerable situation at an older age.
At PARRIS, we’ve compiled some helpful dog attack prevention training tips here:
- Monitor any interactions between your dog and other people, especially small children.
- Keep your dog socialized, so it is at ease around other pets and people.
- Walk and exercise your dog regularly.
- Keep your dog on a leash in public.
- Maintain your pet’s health with regular veterinary care.
- Teach your young children how to act around dogs properly.
Dogs provide a lot of love and happiness to families, but it is important to practice these safety tips to protect your family and others from getting bit and injured by a dog. If you or a loved one has suffered from a personal injury due to a dog bite, contact a PARRIS injury lawyer today. We provide free consultations to victims of dog attacks—don’t hesitate to call us today.
