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Tips for preventing dog bites
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So what are you, as pet owners, to do? Here are some tips from the AVMA to help keep you and your family safe:
- Research your dog breeds to help find the best fit for you and your family.
- Make sure you socialize your puppy and introduce him to multiple situations in a controlled setting to increase his comfort level.
- Consider waiting to get a dog until your children are over 4 years old, if possible.
- Train your dog for the commands sit, stay, no, and come.
- Spay or neuter your dog as this has been shown to decrease biting.
- Be responsible: license your dog, obey leash laws, and make sure gates are secure if your yard is fenced in.
- Be cautious around unknown dogs.
- Never leave a baby or small child unsupervised with a dog.
- Teach children to be careful around pets and to never approach a strange dog without permission from you and the dog's owner.
- Don't run past a dog.
- Do not disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies.
- Never reach through a fence to pet a dog, this could be seen as threatening.
- Stay still if a dog approaches to sniff you, they will usually leave when it determines you are not a threat.
- If you are threatened by a dog, stay calm. Do not raise your voice, instead speak calmly and firmly. Do not look the dog in the eyes. Stay still until the dog leaves, or slowly back away.
- If you fall, curl into a ball with your hands over your head and neck.
- Restrain your dog immediately and confine him.
- Check on the victim: wash wounds with soap and water and seek medical attention.
- Provide the victim/medical professionals with your information: name, address, and your dogs most recent rabies vaccine information.
- Comply with local ordinances
- If it is your dog: After confining your pet and seeking medical attention, have your pet examined here at PVC so we can discuss a possible medical trigger, or help you with behavioral training to prevent further incidents.
- If it is someone else's dog: Seek medical treatment first. Contact authorities (the hospital may help you with this) and tell them what you can: the owner's name, breed/color/size of the dog, where you encountered the dog, and if you've seen the dog before. Discuss post-exposure rabies prophylaxis with your physician if necessary.