According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the number of insurance claims related to dog bites paid in the US increased by 8% in 2023!* During Dog Bite Prevention Week, Dr. Loeffler shares dos and don’ts when interacting with a dog.
Don’t – Reach Your Hand Out
There are things you can certainly do with dogs you’re more familiar with that you wouldn’t necessarily do with a strange dog on the street. However, it doesn’t mean every dog is comfortable with what we’re doing, even if they are tolerating it and not necessarily being aggressive to you.
So, when first approaching a dog, people tend to stick their hands out to try and get them to sniff. Most dogs find that fairly aversive because you’re suddenly close and in their space. It’s a very old-school way of thinking so it’s not the norm and we would not recommend it now for a dog you don’t know.
If the dog is barking, lunging, growling, or doing other similar behaviors, you should NOT approach them.
Do – Get Down On Their Level
However, if they seem calm and you receive permission from the owner to approach, you should get down closer to their level. This action prevents the dog from feeling like you’re suddenly looming over them but instead seems more approachable.
Don’t – Make Direct Eye Contact
It is important to remember to never make direct eye contact with a dog that you do not know because this can be seen as very threatening to them. It’s different from your dogs at home where you can stare lovingly into their eyes and they’re fine with it because they know it’s not a threat. Your dog knows you’re doing it to express your love and care for them, but a dog you’re unfamiliar with will not understand the difference and may not like your directness.
Don’t – Lean Over Them or Linger
You want to avoid leaning over the top of unfamiliar dogs or petting them too excitedly at first. It is dangerous to reach in for a kiss right away. In general, limit as much personal contact as possible at the beginning. Think about it as if it were us – if I ran up to you on the street out of nowhere and suddenly hugged or kissed you, you would probably punch me in the face. So, it’s fair that a dog’s natural reaction may be to bite. It is their way of being defensive and protecting themselves from a stranger.
It may take some dogs a lot of time to get used to new people, while others warm up quicker. Every dog is different, just like humans range from introverts to extroverts and everything in between.
Do – Pet Chest or Under Chin
If you can approach a new dog, we suggest petting underneath their chin or on their chest instead of coming in heavy over the top of them. When you make contact, stay toward their front end and shoulders initially, not back at their back end. If you reach the back where they can’t see your hand, they may turn abruptly as a fear response.
Do – Brief Pets And Pause
Maintain contact for one or two seconds of light petting and then pause. You want to avoid big heavy scratching that may startle them initially or go on too long past their comfort level.
Do – Inventory Their Comfortability
It’s crucial to inventory their comfort level and what consent they are communicating through body language. If a dog does not continue to engage with you, don’t push it.
If they don’t engage, they are trying to communicate that they are not interested in receiving pets right now – and that’s okay! It’s up to me to respect that and say it’s cool, I hear you right now, you don’t want that attention or physical contact right now, I’ll back off. Make sure you aren’t forcing interactions on them.
Again, it’s the same as us. – we like our space and wish to receive respect for having that space.
If you stop pets and they come back willingly, it’s okay to continue. Just don’t expect them to, or get upset if they don’t.
Starting with a few brief, calm scratches and then stopping is a great way to ask the pet, “Would you like some more pets or prefer some space right now?” Take inventory of their response and respect it.
This process helps prevent bites because I’m listening to what he’s telling me and not bombarding him with intense interactions in his close space when he’s not ready for it.
Tips for Children’s Interactions
When it comes to children, you want to be careful of their movements. Kids can be erratic and don’t always do things normally. They can be loud or abrupt which can be scary to a dog.
It is important to teach your children that they always need to ask owners for permission to approach and pet their dog, whether it’s a new dog they see at a park or a neighbor they’ve seen before.
If/when they receive permission from the owner, they should approach the dog calmly and quietly, do one or two short pets on their shoulder, and then pause. Avoid getting too close to the dog’s face but stay off to the side. Use the same system as adults to respect the dog’s reaction to determine if the interaction should continue. Remind the child not to grab the dog’s paws, ears, or tails, as they can be extremely alarming for a dog who isn’t expecting it and can cause a sudden reaction. Even if the dog tolerates it, they won’t like it.
We hope this list of tips for having safe dog interactions and preventing bite altercations has been helpful.
If you have any concerns or questions, please call our office and we would be happy to help.
For more information on this topic, check out Dr. Loeffler’s video on the Telford Vet YouTube page here.
*You can view the AVMA Press Release here.
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