Nobody wants to be the reason someone has to have their dog put down due to biting. But dog bites can be both lethal and life-altering even when victims survive.
Parents can help reduce the likelihood of their children getting bitten by a dog if they teach them to recognize canine signs of aggression.
Recognizing aggressive actions
Dogs bite for various reasons — fear, aggression, resource-guarding, pain and overstimulation are some of the most common reasons for dogs to bite. Fortunately, most dogs do everything they can to signal their intentions before actually harming humans.
Those signs might include:
- Growling – This is different from the playful growls they use when tussling with their toys. It’s low and rumbling, indicating menace.
- Baring their teeth – If your dog shows its teeth to you, that’s a warning that you have lost control of your pet and it may bite you.
- Stiff-legged stance – If your dog stiffens its body and the hackles raise up on its neck, back off.
- Avoidance – Most dogs that are about to bite have done all they can to show how uncomfortable they are with the circumstances. They might literally turn away from the object of their aggression before turning and lunging swiftly.
These are just a few of the signs dogs can exhibit just before launching a devastating attack on a child or even an adult. Not all dogs will show all signs, and if you know a dog that’s prone to biting, it’s wise to learn that dog’s specific “tells” and keep kids away.
If your child gets bitten
Get your son or daughter immediate medical attention. You also should try to identify the dog and its owner. Call and make a police report to document the injuries and link them to the dog attack.