National Dog Bite Prevention Week is Here! (April 7-14)

National Dog Bite Prevention Week is Here! (April 7-14, 2024)

Happening every second week of April. This isn't just any week—it's your chance to become a dog whisperer by learning all about why dogs might snap, growl, or nip and how you can prevent it.

According to National Today, an estimated 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs every year. And a huge chunk of those people, 20%, actually need immediate medical care after it happens. Can you believe that? That is 4.5 million dogs that felt the need to protect themselves from whatever danger they thought they were in.

So, Why Do Dogs Bite?

It could be anything from protecting their bones to simply being scared or insecure. And the solution? Education, my friend! A lot of those 4.5 million bites a year will be caused by people not paying attention to their dog’s body language. Even though they don’t speak, they actually do to those who will listen.

Learn the do's and don’ts of dog-approaching to ensure everyone stays bite-free. This includes teaching kids the right way to interact with dogs and understanding that even the sweetest pup needs personal space.

Tips To Prevent Dog Bites

• Socialize Early: Introduce your dog to various people, environments, smells, sounds, and other animals from a young age. This helps them become more comfortable in different situations.

• Pain-free: Make sure your dog is pain-free. Pain is the number one aggregator in dogs that do not act like they normally do. Dogs are tough and won’t show you they’re in pain. Learn to read your dog, have regular check-ups with your vet, and keep them healthy.

• Supervise Interactions: Always supervise interactions between your dog and children and with strangers to ensure they are positive and safe.

• Create a Safe Space: Give your dog a private space where they can retreat if overwhelmed or anxious. This can be a crate, a separate room, or a quiet corner.

• Avoid Stressful Situations: If you know certain situations stress your dog, avoid them. This is a very simple step that gets overlooked too much. It’s called ‘management’.

• Figure it out: Try to find what makes your dog tick and what doesn’t. The more you understand the likes and dislikes of your dog, the better you’ll be able to navigate them through life and prevent others from getting hurt.

• Seek Professional Help: If your dog shows persistent signs of aggression or anxiety, consult a professional dog trainer or a veterinarian. They can offer guidance and, if necessary, recommend behavior modification programs.

• Don’t get mad: Whenever your dog bites someone, don’t get mad at him. It’s actually your fault because you didn’t read your dog’s body language. Read up on positive training techniques and how to get your dog in a better mindset.

• Be Aware: ANY dog can bite. I don’t care how cute and fluffy yours is. He has teeth and can bite in certain situations. Handle your dog accordingly, and don’t treat him like a baby.

• No time to supervise? No problem! Use baby gates to keep fur babies and human babies in their happy zones. Plus, picking up on Fido's body language cues can be a total game-changer—know when your dog is saying, "back off" without uttering a word!

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