Every year over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs, and approximately 25% of those people require medical attention for these bites. From these statistics, it appears that serious dog bites are all too common. However, there are a number of ways to prevent dog bite injuries.
Tips for Avoiding Dog Bite Injuries
The first step toward preventing a dog bite injury is to understand the body language of a dog you encounter. Dogs, like people, display signals with their body that correspond with their current demeanor. A dog that is likely to bite will often exhibit body language such as a stiff tail, tensed body, furrowed brow, drawn back ears and/or head, yawning, flicking of the tongue, visible whites of the eyes, retreating, and/or an intense stare.
If you are confronted with a dog displaying any of these signs, the following steps can help to avoid escalating the confrontation to an attack. (more…)