Last week, the column entertained the thoughts of a guest contributor, Dr Nicholas Waldron, on a very current issue which is provoking a furore, some of which is uninformed.
Today we conclude with some more considerations on the matter of aggressive dogs.
Prevention of attacks
(Continued)
– Do not isolate or tether your dog for unduly long periods. This is very stressful and frustrating to your dog and may alter his temperament.
– Never tease or agitate your dog or puppy – not even in play. Under no circumstances should you allow your dog to attack or fight other dogs. A dog that is taught aggression stays aggressive.
– Never try to separate fighting dogs, especially not with your bare hands.
– Do not approach a free-roaming dog running, skating, cycling, etc. This may trigger the natural instinct to chase. Put as much distance between yourself and the animal (cross the road) and walk as calmly and confidently as possible past the animal. Do not stare at it.
– Never attempt to touch a strange dog without the owner’s permission. Do not approach the dog in an aggressive or brash manner; do not extend your hand or fingers to the dog; do not be nervous or tentative in your approach. It is best to let the dog approach you and sniff you out first.
– Never touch or approach a dog suddenly, not even your own, especially when the dog is sleeping, eating or has a litter of pups.
– Never attempt to take food or any other object away from a strange dog.
– Never approach a strange dog if it is cornered or doesn’t have an obvious avenue of escape.
How can I protect my children from a dog bite?
Children under the age of twelve suffer the most dog bite attacks. There may be many explanations for this, including the fact that children do not always recognize danger and are more likely to approach strange dogs, and that they are smaller and weaker than adults which means that a dog may see ‘prey’ when he sees a child and hence may attack. A child is more likely to provoke a dog in fun and trigger an attack. Children are also less capable of defending themselves during an attack, which makes it imperative for us to protect them. Therefore:-
– If you have very young children in your home it may be a good idea to defer acquiring a dog until they are a bit older.
– Teach your children from very early not to approach or touch any strange dogs.
– Never leave a child and a dog together unsupervised.
– Teach your children never to tease, hit, stone or otherwise provoke dogs.
How can I reduce the risk of my dog biting someone?
As a responsible pet owner you can ensure that you own the pet best suited to you and your environment, that the dog is properly socialized and well trained and that you have all the necessary facilities to be certain that your dog is secure at all times and does not pose a threat to innocent people. You can also ensure that your dog is healthy at all times, visits the vet regularly and has all of its ‘shots’ up to date. Be sure to comply with all laws and other legal and social requirements that may be in effect regarding owning a dog.
In conclusion, know the facts, remember that any dog can bite, so give them all the respect they deserve and be a responsible pet owner.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.