Dog Bite Prevention Week

This week has been National Bite Prevention Week (happens every third full week of May each year), which focuses on educating people on how to prevent dog bites. Statistics state there are over 70 million dogs in the United States and according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), dogs bite over 4.5 million Americans each year. The majority of these bites, if not all, are preventable.

So let's take a moment to learn more about dog bite prevention, shall we?

70 million nice dogs...but any dog can bite

So what are some things that people, especially children (as they are more likely to be bitten than adults) can do when interacting with dogs?

1. Ask permission from the dog's owner before touching or interacting with the dog.
2. If the dog's owner says yes, then you need to get the dog's consent. Children need to learn to be less invasive when they approach a dog. You should approach slowly and talk quietly, reaching low and in front of the dog (like under the chin on the chest) instead of reaching over their head.
3. It's a great idea to reward the dog when interacting with new people. Ask the dog's owner if you can give it a treat (making sure that children know the proper way to give a dog a treat).

This chart is pretty awesome :).

People should also learn to read a dog's body language. It's important we understand how they communicate and what they are communicating since we are trying to coexist with them peacefully. If their ears are back, tail tucked under them, cowering, turn their head away or lick their lips, they are stressed and should not be approached.

I love this chart!! :) Informative and fun.

Better safe than sorry

It's so tempting when you see a dog on the street to want to pet them, which is often the worst time for the dog because of all the distractions. Always err on the side of caution to be safe before approaching a dog. Another great link to check out is: Doggonesafe.com.

Monday loves attention and cuddles when done appropriately!!