Dog Bites

Every year well over 4 million people are bitten by dogs.
While some of these bites may be minor, others can leave
serious injuries or even death. If you own a dog which bites
someone, you could find yourself in legal trouble. If it kills
someone, you could end up behind bars. While I don't want to
scare you away from owning a dog, there are some things you
will want to do to make sure your dog doesn't bite you or
others.
The first thing you want to do is never approach strange
dogs. Even if the dog is behind a fence or tied up, it could
see you as being a threat. You should also keep your own dog
away from other strange dogs. It could be injured or killed if
the strange dog decides to attack it. You should also avoid
petting your dog without letting them sniff your hand first so
that they know who you are. Under no circumstances should you
run from a dog. Dogs are natural predators, and will almost
always chase you unless they're trained.
When a dog is eating, sleeping, or caring for its young, it
is best not to startle or disturb them. They may snap at or
bite you. It may be necessary to neuter your dog if it is going
around and getting into fights with other dogs constantly. You
can also take your dog around others to keep it from being
nervous when in the presence of people it is not familiar with.
Dogs should also be trained not to chase anyone. This is one of
the most common things which leads to a dog biting someone. You
should also give your dog rabies vaccinations, and never allow
it to go places without your supervision.
If you should be attacked by a dog, the first thing you want
to do is remain calm. If you panic you are likely to make bad
decisions. You will also want to wash the wound as soon as
possible. Use soap and water and contact your doctor as soon as
you can. Contact the animal care agency in your area and let
them know that you have been bitten. Describe the dog and where
you encountered them. Let them know what direction you think
the dog went in.
Being the owner of a dog which likes to bite is a serious
issue. You can avoid biting by training the dog while they're
young. Once they get older, it will be difficult or impossible
to get them to follow your commands, and if they bite somone
else, you could be in a lot of trouble.
By
Michael Colucci. Michael Colucci
is a technical writer for Free Dog
Training and Dog Care
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Colucci
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