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Taking the bite out of canine attacks

PoliticsHome | Blue Cross

3 min read Partner content

To mark dog awareness week Blue Cross Editor Rachael Millar suggests we need to learn how dogs communicate with people and to watch out for warning signals.

Dog attacks on postmen, midwives and other public servants often happen in front gardens or inside homes, which is why we were pleased to see the last government extend the Dangerous Dogs Act to cover attacks on private property. But this is just one element of our campaigning, as we believe that prevention is far better than prosecution. We want to stop attacks happening in the first place and learning how dogs communicate with us is a great place to start.

Do you speak dog?

Most dog owners think they know what their dog is thinking, but do you really know what they’re trying to tell you?

When you consider that 70 per cent of dog bites happen in the home, and 80 per cent of people are bitten by dogs they know, it’s a good idea to get clued up on dog body language.

We often hear that dog attacks came out of nowhere, or that the dog didn’t give any signal they were about to bite – but this could be because not many people recognise the signs dogs give us before they bite.

Our relationship with dogs has been forged over hundreds of years, during which time our requirements of them have changed dramatically and their working traits are now second to their role as pets.

But dogs still retain a lot of their instincts for hunting, herding and guarding. In some dogs, these instincts will be stronger than others. Today, as domestic pets, we want dogs to curb these instincts and fit into our way of living.

Dogs bite people for lots of reasons. The majority of bites will happen because dogs have not been appropriately socialised to everyday situations, enabling them to learn that the things they think are scary are totally safe.

Recognising dog body language

Dogs will typically try to avoid biting people, but will do so as a last resort to make something they perceive to be scary stop or go away.
First, they will usually exhaust a wide range of signals or warnings with the intention of avoiding conflict.

If dogs have time they may display subtle behaviours, such as attempting to move away from something or someone, sniffing the floor, yawning, licking their lips or nose, or raising a paw. However, if a dog feels truly threatened and under pressure, they will act defensively and may growl, lunge forward and show their teeth, as a final attempt to communicate.  

Time to walk away

If you spot any of these signs, give the dog lots of space. While you might want to say hi, but they’re not sure about you and getting closer could make things worse.

Learning to spot any of these signals is essential for anyone wanting to avoid a dog bite – these are the cues that tell you to leave the dog alone and walk away. The more we all recognise and respond to what dogs are telling us, the less likely bites are to happen.

The amount of dog bites that occur could be dramatically decreased if we socialise them effectively and help them to better understand the world in which they live.

If you recognise these behaviours in your dog, you can receive help and support by contacting your vet or a suitably qualified dog behaviourist.

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