Help Prevent Dog Bites
Info from CVMA

This information is provided for the purpose of awareness. Do not let this dissuade you from providing a rescue with a home but use the information to make to adjustment for both the Basset and your family a little easier. As a mother of two small children, I know the importance of dog/kid behavior and safety. The earlier a child understands what is and is not acceptable to a dog, the less likely there will be behavior problems.

The tendency for dogs to bite is the product of many factors. Some breeds have a genetic predisposition towards aggressiveness. There is less tendency to bite with early socialization to people, training, quality of care and supervision. Factors that may increase the tendency to bite include maltreatment, behavior of the victim, and possibly the weather.

Dangerous situations

• Invading dog's territory
• Threat to dog's family
• Threat to dog
• Jealous dog

You must be careful to avoid:

• approaching or bending over dogs especially if they are lying quietly
• approaching them immediately after entering their territory
• teasing or waking them
• playing with them till they become overexcited

Ten rules:

DO NOT

• hold your face close to a dog
• allow dogs to roam unleashed
• approach a strange dog
• tease a dog
• startle a dog
• disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies
• leave a small child and dog alone
• omit vaccination of a dog
• leave a dog alone with strangers
• ignore the warning signals of aggressive behavior
  

A Threatened Dog Often Bites

• Never run from or scream at a dog.
• Do not challenge the dog by staring it right in the eye.
• Be as still as possible if approached by an unfamiliar dog.
• If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball and stay still.

Children

• Tell an adult if you see a stray dog or one acting strangely.
• If a dog bites you, tell an adult RIGHT AWAY!

Dog Owners CAN Help

• Spay / neuter your dog, this can calm them down.
• Train your dog in obedience.
• DO NOT play aggressive games with your dog.
• Keep your dog healthy, an unnoticed injury can make a dog aggressive.
• Follow leash laws.
• Unsocialized dogs that are left outside are more likely to bite than those maintained as house dogs.

Information provided by:

Michael Bermant, MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com

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