“Is your dog friendly?” is a question most dog owners will get as they walk their dog through the neighborhood or even when guests arrive at their home. What these people are really asking is, “Will this dog bite me?” Nobody wants to think that a dog might bite them, but we need to remember that dogs are animals and can hurt us. The good news is that often, a dog will give you clues that it’s getting upset before it bites someone. These warning signs include snapping, growling, and barking. There are also physical signs that a dog is getting ready to attack.
Part of being a responsible pet owner is working with the dog from the moment it joins your family. One thing you need to do is to get the dog to socialize. This means that the dog needs to learn how to be around other dogs, animals, and people and how to behave in new places. Dogs that have been properly socialized are much less likely to bite.
It’s also important that owners learn about their dogs. Dogs will often make certain sounds or act a certain way when they’re upset or anxious. For example, a dog that’s wagging its tail slowly and with its whole body is happy and relaxed, but a dog that’s twitching its tail quickly from side to side is probably anxious and needs a break from the situation it’s in. Always take your dog away from a situation if the dog seems stressed. You also should learn what things your dog has a hard time dealing with and try to keep your dog away from those things. For example, some dogs lash out when they’re startled. If your dog is like that, you should make sure that nobody scares the dog on purpose, and you should try to keep them away from situations where they might get startled, like fireworks shows. If your dog gets upset, you need to have a plan to get it away from other people quickly.
- Eight Tips to Socialize Your Dog With Other Dogs and Humans
- Four Reasons Why Socialization Is Important for Your Dog’s Health
- Four Benefits of Socialization
- How to Socialize Your Dog From Home
- Why Socialization Is So Important
- Guidelines for Responsible Pet Ownership
- What it Means to Be a Responsible Pet Owner
- Responsible Pet Ownership Keeps People and Pets Healthy
- Am I Ready for a Dog? How to Be a Responsible Dog Owner
- Be a Responsible Dog Owner
Someone who has been bitten by a dog needs to take quick action. Dog bites that get infected can make a person very sick. Because of the way dogs’ teeth tear and compress the skin as they bite, it’s likely that a bite will get infected if it isn’t treated right away.
If you’re bitten by a dog, the first thing you need to do is get away from the dog so that it can’t bite you again. Then, wash the bite with gentle soap and let warm water run over it for at least five minutes. If the wound is bleeding, you should press a clean, soft cloth against it. If you have antibiotic cream, put some on the wound, then cover it with a bandage. Then, go to the doctor. You should see a doctor within eight hours of being bitten.
After a doctor has examined you, follow their instructions for keeping the wound clean and changing the bandage. Every time the bandage is changed, look at the wound to see if there are signs of swelling and redness. These are both signs of infection. Other signs that should be watched for include a fever and pain that doesn’t go away.
- If a Dog Bites You, Do These Seven Things Now
- Dog Bites
- Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
- When Should You Seek Medical Attention for a Dog Bite?
- Animal and Human Bites
- The Aftermath of Child Dog Attacks
- Animal Bites: Know When to Go to the ER
- Animal Bite Injury First Aid
More Resources
- How to Help a Dog That’s Missed Early Socialization
- How to Stop Dog Bites
- Dog Behavior Problems: Aggression to Family Members
- Preventing Dog Bites
- Prevention and Treatment of Dog Bites
- Tips to Avoid a Dog Bite
- Finding a Dog Bite Lawyer
- Dog Bite Prevention
- How to Stop a Dog From Biting People: Six Expert Tips
- Training Tip: How to Keep Your Dog From Biting
- Three Effective Ways to Stop a Puppy From Biting
Jeffrey Nadrich
Jeffrey Nadrich is a nationally-recognized California plaintiff’s personal injury attorney. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law. He has successfully represented thousands of injury clients over the last 40 years.
