Have you heard there was a National Dog Bite Prevention Week?

Yes, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) National Dog Bite Prevention Week in 2014 is from the 18th of May until May 24 and the purpose, as always, will be on informing people about preventing dog bites.

Well, the the majority of these attacks can be greatly reduced. Who gets bitten the more often? Of course kids! Therefore, educating kids needs to be the job of the parents, especially if there are dogs in the family.

With 70 million dogs in the United States, there’s got to be a significant number of dog bites. How about 4.5 – 5 million dog bites occur every year. About 20% of these dog bites need a doctor’s attention. That is 800,000 every year and half of those are kids. Senior citizens are the next most common group suffering from a dog bite. Children are frequently more seriously traumatized. The offending dog is usually familiar to the victim. The dog bites often occurs during routine daily involvement with the dog.

So what ideas can we provide to help reduce this significant problem? Listed are ten steps someone can do.

Do some research and homework about different breeds

Among the most important things is to do some research about different breed personalities and behavioral trends prior to selecting a dog for the family. Don’t adopt or get a pet based on impulse for emotional factors, feeling sorry for the dog or guilty. Don’t let someone force a pet on you. This generally turns out badly. Particularly if this is your first dog. Learn what to try to find in an animal. Speak to a vet, a reliable breeder, at least someone in the veterinary or pet care field. Iindividuals who have had years of experience handling and working with different canines. If you are not alone, the other people, specifically grownups, have to be on the same page completely. Do not permit kids to make the selection. You have to look at your household situation and see if the dog fits (sex, breed, size, activity level, personality, type of coat, monetary dedication, etc.) into your lifestyle.

If thinking about a puppy, check out the parents, at least the mother of the puppy

Personality is a heritable trait. Exactly how does she react when you approach and touch her? Will she sit on command? Are you able to get her to rest on her side? Take the puppy and pick it up. Exactly how does it respond? Put the puppy on its back and side? Exactly how does it react? If it fights you, vocalizes or tries to bite, do not take it. You will have troubles in socializing it.

You must have human interactivity with the puppy

With that mentioned, make sure that your puppy is well-socialized. The ability to interact socially the pet is crucial in having a excellent and obedient animal. You need to work with your dog to comply with the essential commands such as sit, remain, rest, obey when you say no and listen to you when you call. The dog has to be comfortable walking on a leash (ie. – strolls with you in a calm way, does not drag you and is at hand). The most necessary thing you can do to prevent behavioral problems and reduce the threat of your dog biting somebody is appropiate socialization. If your dog has an obedient nature, you will substantially decrease the risk of biting someone and misbehaving. You will substantially lower the risk of biting somebody and misbehaving if your dog has an obedient nature.

Workout with your dog daily

Exercising your dog is also vital, especially in specific breeds. Dogs have energy that needs to be burnt on a regular day-to-day basis. Relying on the dog, the exercise could be long strolls or need to be more aerobic. Great regular workout likewise provides psychological stimulation for the pet and will make the pet better within the family.

Play properly with your dog

When anyone or the kids play with the dog, eliminate the play fighting or tug-of-war sort of games. This style of activity is over exciting and vies the pet dog against you. Don’t tease the dog with your hands. Offering your fingers, hands or arms in the animal’s mouth is saying to the pet it is OK to bite, even if it is in a playful manner. In addition, don’t ever place your dog in a circumstance where he/she really feels teased or endangered.

Leash instruction is required

As previously mentioned, you need to consistently utilize a leash when you walk your dog in public. You need to maintain control. You don’t have control, when your dog is dragging you along. Each family members need to have proper control when walking the dog, not just a single person. You ought to find out some obedience training if you have a serious problem when walking your dog.

Do not leave your dog outdoors by itself in the yard

Keeping a pet out in the fenced yard alone can lead to issues. Digging holes and jumping the fence are commonplace issues. You can get a few territorial and aggression problems if anotherpet is adjoining to your yard. This could undo the job you have already done.

Timely spaying and neutering can assist

Spaying and neutering are good things to do. Eliminating the hormonal impacts can reduce some natural aggression tendencies present among intact dogs. You really need to discuss the timing of neutering and spaying with your veterinary clinic.

Get yearly wellness and physical examinations

Regular wellness and physical examinations ought to be performed at a minimum yearly. If touched where there is soreness, dogs in pain from osteoarthritis could well potentially nip. Your animal medical practitioner can supply medication for arthritic pain.

Take time to educate and teach your kids

You should teach your children how to approach and act with not only your own pet but other dogs that they may run into. Be sure that they know not to just go up a pet and extend their hand to touch the animal. Do not go to hug a dog or grab the pet in any way. They should never approach a pet that is not on a leash and under an adult’s control. You really should never leave an infant or small child alone with any dog, even your own.

Watch the videos below to help teach your child about dogs:

 


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