Dog bites
Never leave a child unsupervised with a dog, regardless of what type of dog it is, or its previous behaviour.
Dogs with no previous history of biting can sometimes bite. A dog breed’s reputation, or appearance, is also no guarantee of a dog’s behaviour. Family dogs such as labradors, collies and terriers are all known to have been involved in fatal attacks.
The advice outlined below will help you and your children to prevent dog bites.
- Avoid making your dog too important within the family. Don't let them sleep on the furniture or beg for food. This can sometimes confuse a dog, making it think that it has a higher status within the family group. If someone, for example a young child, challenges that status, the dog may react aggressively.
- Dogs love to chase things so you and your children should avoid running or screaming in the presence of a dog.
- Respect a dog’s boundaries because, like many animals, dogs have a sense of personal space. If you suddenly approach a dog, they can react unpredictably. Do not greet a dog with an outstretched hand. Do not suddenly interrupt a dog when it is eating, sleeping or playing with a toy. And do not pet a dog without letting it sniff you first.
- Socialise your dog by allowing it to experience many different kinds of people, situations and environments. This will help stop your dog becoming frightened or nervous if it finds itself in unfamiliar circumstances or when meeting new people.
Signs that a dog is becoming aggressive and may be about to bite include:
- the hairs on the dog’s back rising up
- the dog baring their teeth
- the dog’s ears moving either forward or back against their head
- the dog staring directly at you
- the dog’s legs stiffening
If you are presented with an aggressive dog, you should stand still, with your feet together, your arms placed against your chest, and your fists folded below your neck. Avoid direct eye contact because the dog may interpret it as an aggressive act.
Don't attempt to run away from the dog. By standing still the dog should lose interest, allowing you to back away slowly.
If a dog jumps on you and knocks you to the ground, you should try to lie still, face down, with your legs together and your fists behind your neck with your forearms covering your ears. Once the dog realises that you are not moving, it should lose interest and move away.
Cat bites
As many cat bites are from strays, avoid disturbing or stroking a cat that you do not know.
If your cat is attempting to bite or jump at your hands and feet while it is playing (playful aggression), do not attempt to push them away with your hands as this can reinforce the pattern of behaviour. Instead, use a water spray to discourage them.
Using a sock or small felt toy on an end of a string that you can drag around the room is a good way of letting your cat play without encouraging bad behaviour.
Human bites
Most human bites are the result of alcohol-related violence and disorder. Therefore, the most effective way to avoid taking part in this type of incident is to moderate your alcohol consumption and avoid binge drinking.
Read more about alcohol misuse including the risks that are associated with heavy drinking and how to avoid them.
