Savannah Morning News – July 14, 2017 Kerri Polanski, Development & Marketing Manager
With summer vacation in full swing, children are out enjoying the sunshine and perhaps the company of their best four legged friend or the neighborhood dog. When I’m out walking my dog, a common question I am asked is, “Does he bite?”
It turns out all dogs can bite and will bite under certain circumstance. But there are some common sense things that parents can teach their children about interacting with dogs and that dog owners can do to prevent their dog from biting.
It may seem obvious to describe the signs of a dog that may be anxious and therefore aggressive, but there are mixed signals. The more obvious signs are a dog showing its hackles, which is the fur standing up on her neck, back or tail to try and make herself look bigger but she could also try to make herself look smaller. Also be mindful of ‘whale eye’, which is a term used to describe when the whites of her eyes are visible at the spaces on her inner or outer eyes, but sometimes all around as well. Her head will be slightly tilted away from you but her eyes are fixed on something or someone. If you can see the whites of her eyes, and she shows no other signs of distress then she is not likely to act agressively. Her tail may stand straight up, but it might also be tucked between her legs or even wagging. Trying to read the dog’s body language can be confusing, and the dog may be conflicted themselves, but try to avoid contact while they are exhibiting any of these behaviors.
Teach your children to stay away from loose animals. Always ask the owner of a leashed dog if it is safe to pet them but still proceed with caution. Most dog bites occur with children and men, and even with the dogs that are familiar to us. Here are the most basic rules to follow to prevent dog bites from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
Always teaching and reinforcing these simple rules with your children, regardless of whether or not you own pets, will help prevent the problem before they ever have the chance of occurrence. Remember to follow these rules yourself to not only set a good example, but to keep yourself out of possible harm’s way. It is always better to be safe than sorry when dealing with a dog bite!