Though a statistical rarity (It is estimated that less than 2% of the U.S. population is bitten by a dog each year), dogs and cats do sometimes bite. Fortunately it is easy to prevent your family and yourself from being bitten.

  • Ask before petting someone else’s dog. You might even ask if the dog doesn’t like to be touched anywhere, especially if it is an older dog who may suffer from physical discomfort.
  • Do not approach an unleashed or stray dog.
  • Never allow children and dogs to be together unsupervised. The majority of dog-bite victims are children.
  • Avoid running away from a dog; this incites the prey/chase instinct and dogs are almost always faster than people.
  • If any dog – yours or someone else’s – threatens you, back off. Attempting to “dominate” a dog or match its threat with your own will only worsen the situation and almost guarantees a bite.
  • Do not hit or use other physical corrections in training.
  • If you know that a particular situation will cause your dog to act aggressively, avoid that situation and contact our behavior helpline.
  • Most importantly, understand dog body language so that you know what a dog is telling you.

 

If you would like information from an Anti-Cruelty Society Behavior Specialist regarding this behavior topic, please call 312-645-8253 or email behavior@anticruelty.org.

 

Recent Articles

Crate training is a wonderful tool to help keep your canine companion out of trouble when you’re not around. If introduced correctly, a crate can provide your dog with a safe, comfortable place to relax. 

The Benefits of Crate Training:

Crates provide your dog with her own personal safe space Limits

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Some bark at passer-bys outside the window, while some bark only when you leave the house. The first step in managing your dog’s barking is to determine what exactly is causing it. Below are several reasons why dogs bark and recommendations on how to manage it. 

Territorial/

Jumping up on people is a natural form of greeting for a dog. When dogs approach each other, they often sniff each other’s face and ears. Since people walk upright, dogs frequently feel the need to jump up in order to say hello. It is important to teach your dog that the proper way to greet a human is with all four

Adding a new member to the pack is an exciting experience. It should also be handled with care. 

Similar to people, dogs take differently to individual dogs. They may instantly take to some and be more distant towards others. If you are adding a new dog to the family, there are steps to be taken to ensure a