Dog Bites Essay

There is no doubt that dogs are man’s best friend however, more than 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year (avma.org). Of the over 800,000 people who receive medical attention for dog bites, at least one half are children (avma.org). After children, elderly are the second most common victims of bites (avma.org). Dog bites are a major problem in the U.S. but the reason it is such an issue is because both dog owners and others who are often around dogs are not properly educated about dog behavior and do not realize when a situation could be dangerous. If more information is made available on the subject; dog bites can easily be prevented. A great start to preventing bites is understanding why dogs bite in the first place. Dogs bite for a number of reasons ranging from self defense to simply playing so it is …show more content…
Owners should make sure their dogs have been properly socialized. An undersocialized or isolated dog can easily become stressed out by everyday situations (aspca.org). It is best to start socializing a dog as a puppy and go by their pace, do not try to rush things. Owners should also look out for their dogs showing aggression or fear for no apparent reason; when this happens the dog should be taken to a veterinary behaviorist to try to correct the issue as soon as possible (“Planning for Success”). Those who do not own dogs but still want to interact with dogs should take precautions when approaching a dog. Avoid trying to pet dog that is not with its owner or if the owner has not given permission to pet the dog. Do not pet a dog while it is eating, sleeping, sick, or injured. If a dog starts growling or seems to be avoiding you, leave it alone. Lastly do not disturb service dogs, they have an important job to do and should not be distracted, ask their handler or owner first (“Top ten scenarios to