CAPITAL HUMANE SOCIETY
2320
Why Dogs Bite: A Guideline For Children
Copyright
Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the
Excitement
The
noises and movements you make when you play are very exciting to dogs. When
dogs play with other dogs, they often play roughly with their sharp teeth and
claws. Sometimes dogs forget that they can't play the same way with you, and
because they don't have hands, they use their mouths to grab things. A dog can
hurt you by accident, just by being too excited.
What
you should do: Play gently and calmly and if a dog gets
too excited, freeze and walk away. Take some time out to give you both a chance
to calm down.
Pain
or Sickness
When
a dog is in pain, he doesn't understand where the pain comes from. If you touch
him, he may think you are causing the pain and will bite you to stop the pain.
What
you should do: If a dog is acting like he is sick or
hurt, leave him alone -- even if he belongs to your family. Tell an adult, and
together you can get medical help for the dog.
Anger
A
dog will protect anything that’s important to him: his toys; his bed; his food
and water bowls; his people; his yard; his house; or his car. If you come near
something that a dog feels is off-limits to you, he may bite to make you leave
his "property" alone!
What
you should(or should not) do: Don't
go into a yard where there’s a dog you don't know. Don't reach through a car
window or a fence to pet a dog. Don't pet a dog that’s tied up. Don't touch a dog's
"property."
Fear
or Surprise
Quick
movements and sudden or loud noises are scary for dogs, and they may bite to
protect themselves. If a dog thinks you’re a stranger who might hurt him, he
may not know how to get away, so he’ll protect himself by biting.
What
you should do: When you’re around a dog you don’t know,
be quiet and move slowly. Always ask the dog's owner for permission before you
pet him. If the owner isn’t there for you to ask, LEAVE THE DOG ALONE.
Warning
Signs
Watch
and listen for the warnings a dog will give you to let you know when he is
upset. If his ears are laid back against his head, or his legs are very stiff,
he is probably warning you that he feels threatened and will protect himself if
he must. If the hair on his back is standing up, that’s another warning. If a
dog is growling or barking with his teeth showing, it means he is ready to
bite. A dog's warning signs mean that you’re doing something he doesn't like,
so stop doing it!
What
you should do:
·
Freeze.
·
Count to five, slowly and silently.
·
Move away very slowly, sideways or
backwards.
·
If the dog jumps on you, act like a rock
by curling up into a ball and covering your face and head with your arms.
What
you should NOT do:
·
Don’t stare at the dog -- that means
"I dare you to bite me!"
·
Don’t run, jump or wave your arms
around.
·
Don’t scream.
·
Don’t throw anything at the dog or hit
him.
If A
Dog Bites You
If
you’re bitten by a dog, or any animal, you should:
v Have
an adult take you to a doctor.
v Wash
the wound with soap and warm water.
v Write
down the type, size and color of the animal. Was it wearing a collar? Did it
have any identification tags? Where were you when you were bitten? Where did
the animal go?
v Report
all of this information to the animal control agency in your city or county.