24 February 2016
 Categories: Law, Blog

Over 4.5 million dog bites occur each year making it a necessary threat for anyone at any age. Whether you are walking through your neighborhood or you have a pet of your own that has shown some aggressive behavior, it is important that you identify any risks of dog bites and prevent them in e best way possible. As a dog owner, you are responsible for restraining your dog when in public and making sure that it is not a threat to others. Should your dog bite someone, you could be sued for medical expenses and more. Dogs can be a part of the family so the last thing you want is to have to give up your dog should it end up biting someone. You can help avoid dog bites using these four tips. 

Reduce Aggression in Your Dog

Most dog bites occur in the home. This is often not something your dog sets out to do. Maybe you two were playing fetch and the dog grabbed the toy out of your hands or you were handing the dog a treat and it accidentally bit your hand. The best way to prevent aggressive behavior from your dog is by training them at an early age. It is much easier to train a puppy than it is an adult dog. Trainers can help train your dog to be gentle when around you and other people. Additionally, having your dog spayed or neuter can also reduce aggression in your dog. Most veterinarians recommend waiting until your dog is around 6 months to have it neutered. 

Know Your Dog's Body Language

The best way to prevent your dog from biting is to know your dog's behavior. In general, your dog will display certain behaviors before they attack someone. If your dog feels threatened, they may try to make themselves look bigger. This is done by having the hair stand up, the ears perk up, and even the tail sprout up. Additionally, your dog may growl and show their teeth if they feel threatened. When this happens, you want to make sure you or someone else does not approach the dog. 

Be Cautious About Taking Your Dog Out

Taking your dog to the park can be a great way to keep you and your dog active. Unfortunately, there are usually a lot of people around that can scare your dog. Children are most susceptible to dog bites because their actions can be so unexpected. While not all children understand the threat of dogs, it is important to safeguard everyone around you should you dog come into contact with others. This can be done by keeping your dog on a leash so that you can control how far they go.