To the owner of the two black poodles who bit my husband last Saturday early morning while running at Magnuson park, this is for you. But also for all of us as a reminder to something I know both from the medical data and from life experience too well: all dogs bite. Even when an owner assures you they don’t or won’t.
For many, having a dog isn’t just having a pet, they are clearly part of our families. We invest, we believe, we protect, and we stand behind them. I’ve written about the love my family has for our sweet dog Luna who passed away a year ago this month. Many of us love our dogs for many reasons, and they even have been shown to boost humans’ health in psychosocial but also fundamental ways. A study published in JAMA Pediatrics back in 2015 found that exposure to dogs during a baby’s first year was linked to a 13% lower risk of asthma in school age children. Having a dog also helps teach children responsibility and can boost their self-esteem. But we do have to remember, dogs are animals and they act like it when provoked, frightened or activated. All dogs will bite given the right circumstance. Coincidental to a dog bite in my family, this week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week and I’m sharing some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for keeping your family and children safe from dog bites.
Each year, more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs, and of the 800,000 Americans who receive medical attention for dog bites, at least half are children. Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention. Children are, by far, the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured. Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs. Remember, as most dog bites involve familiar animals, prevention starts in your home.
Some species of dogs are more likely to bite unprovoked or when startled (Pit Bulls, Rotweillers, German Shepards, Huskies, etc). But this post really is intended to remind us that even when a sweet lamb-like doggy of ANY breed gets frightened or provoked by an unsuspecting human, toddler or child, they may bite without even THINKING of it. Some of this is just animal instinct.
7 Ways To Help Prevent Dog Bites:
- Never leave a small child and a dog alone together, no matter if it is the family dog, a dog that is known to you, or a dog that you have been assured is well behaved. Any dog can bite at any time.
- Teach your child to ask a dog owner for permission before petting any dog. Teach them to pet a dog under the chin to avoid the dog perceiving any threat/danger. We all love to pat a doggy on the head but the action can startle a dog and threaten them.
- Let a dog sniff you or your child before petting, and stay away from the face or tail. Pet the dog gently, and avoid eye contact, particularly at first.
- Never bother a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. Dogs in these situations are more likely to respond aggressively, even with a person who is familiar to them.
- Do not allow your child to run past a dog, because dogs may be tempted to pursue the child (or you!).
- Teach your child that if a dog is behaving in a threatening manner—for example, growling and barking—to remain calm, avoid eye contact with the dog, and back away slowly until the dog loses interest and leaves.
- If you or your child is knocked over by a dog, curl up in a ball and protect the eyes and face with arms and fists.
Treatment for Dog Bites:
- Request proof of rabies vaccination from the dog’s owner, get the dog owner’s name and contact information, and ask for the name and telephone number of a veterinarian who is familiar with the dog’s vaccination records and history.
- Immediately wash out the wound with soap and water.
- Call your pediatrician because the bite could require antibiotics, a tetanus shot, and/or rabies shots. The doctor can also help you report the incident.
- If your child is bitten severely enough that the skin has been broken, call 9-1-1 or bring your child to an emergency department for treatment.
Often in the startling and scary event of a dog bite we get flustered. We may not follow through with ideal care. Even two physicians are having a hard time figuring out how to find the owner of the black poodles that bit my husband last weekend to verify rabies vaccination. If you’re out there, Owner Of The Two Black Standard Poodles, please do get in touch. We’d love to ensure the health and safety of our family but we’d also really appreciate you observing the leash law moving forward, too.
Comments? Tips and tricks you’ve learned about ensuring safety living with and recreating with sweet doggies of the world?
Ouch! My husband was bitten on the leg by an off-leash dog while jogging.
Kelsey says
I usually love your common sense riches but including a sentence like “Some species of dogs are more likely to bite unprovoked or when startled (Pit Bulls, Rotweillers, German Shepards, Huskies, etc).” Turned me off in a BIG way. My family has had a lot of big breed dogs and there is enough fear surrounding them. In the future if you’re going to include a statement like that it should have context to back it up.
I have never had issues with our big dogs being startled and biting! I think your statement is an unfortunate generalization that makes big breeds out to be scary and potentially dangerous and that’s unfair! Please think before you make a comment like that on such a public forum… my pitt bulls and my toddler thank you!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
There is data that some breeds of dogs are more likely to bite and some species of dogs, statistically (as noted in the post) are more likely to cause serious injuries to humans.
You may not like the data but it’s not irresponsible of me to share it. As a pediatrician and mom committed to helping the public understand how to prevent injury and illness knowing more will hopefully help, not hurt. I didn’t say NOT to get a dog of a certain breed, but everyone should know that all dogs bite and that some breeds are more likely to do so while some breeds are more likely to cause serious injury or even fatality.
https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2015.php
sabina havkins says
Thank you Kelsey . I totally agree
Cindy Wright says
Kelsey, your reaction was the same as mine. If we could get true documentation of all dogs bites, little dogs would win hands down. Larger dogs get a bad rap due to size alone. They unfortunately do more damage which makes them more of a statistic. Smaller dogs are the real bad kids of the group. They don’t make such an impact in bite size, and therefore don’t get reported as often. And let’s not forget the owners who are often forgotten in the blame for any ill behaved dog.
Katrina says
Hi,
Thanks for the article and the dog bite prevention tips.
I’d like to point out that the line “Some species of dogs are more likely to bite unprovoked or when startled (Pit Bulls, Rotweillers, German Shepards, Huskies, etc)” and its corresponding citation are not actually supported by evidence. If you go to the website you cited and peruse the fact sheets and reports, you will find that there are no citations, or citations are for news articles reporting dog bites (not scientific reports). This website is full of misinformation. Relying on news pieces is problematic because there is no consensus on what a “pit bull” type dog is, and even veterinarians and shelter workers regularly misidentify them (https://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/2016/02/17/dna-studies-reveal-that-shelter-workers-often-mislabel-dogs-as-pit-bulls/).
I did like the bulk of your article. One other minor point: I would argue that dogs bite not because “dogs are animals and they act like it when provoked, frightened or activated”, but rather because they have ALREADY tried to communicate to us humans to respect their space and we have failed to “hear” them. This video does a nice job of representing this (if you know what to look for – dog looking away/ whites of eyes showing, ears pulled back, hunched body: https://www.facebook.com/paw.man.3/videos/10206890328325669/)
I would encourage checking out this resource for a more in depth look at dog bites: https://avsabonline.org/uploads/position_statements/Breed-Specific_Legislation-download-_8-18-14.pdf which cites several scientific studies.
Thanks very much.
Best wishes,
Katrina
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Thank you, Katrina — for your response and your links.
leid Jenkinson says
We have had 5 dogs (serially) but mostly walked them in off-leash in a rural setting, and on-leash in a city setting. 1) Some municipalities do have laws requiring testing of dogs before they are certified as permitted to be off-leash. You shouldn’t jog/run in a dog-park or a designated off-leash area, and shouldn’t have to avoid all dogs elsewhere – but humans don’t have 360-degree vision. 2) We learned never to let dogs off-leash in an area with more than a few adults if the dog has not been totally trained to return on command. 3) Never trust a child (Toddler through Teens) to know how to approach, or be approached by, a dog. Small children who are not trained can/will run at a dog – exactly what you don’t want to happen! I’ve moved to stand in the way so the small child runs into me, not the dog – while the parents just stood there. 4) Dogs can get tense when in the presence of an unknown dog – and that is an important sign for the owner (and by-standers) to take extra care. In our experience, the majority of dogs (but not all), seem to do better greeting and checking out a strange dog when both are off leash, but it can be a tense moment. If the strange dog is on-leash, it is time to leash your dog and pay close attention when they get near each other. 6) Chose a dog to match your circumstances and living arrangements, not by “Beauty” or “popularity”. A large, active breed is not suitable for an apartment with owners gone all day and no area for heavy exercise nearby, for example.
We can’t imagine living without a dog, anymore.
To sum up: train your dog and train your child and train yourself!
Lisa Murakami says
Hmmm. The idea that all breeds of dogs bite, main, and kill at equal frequencies is simply not true. There are lots and lots of statistics on which kind of dogs bite the most, and which kinds of dogs cause the most fatalities (plus, common sense; a more powerful dog is obviously more likely to cause a more severe injury). Certain types of dog breeds are wholly illegal in the UK, where they view US dog issues much the same as gun issues; they see us as a country that values freedom over the occasional pediatric severe injury and death.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Hi Lisa,
I agree–not all breeds bite at equal frequencies. All dogs bite, but some bite more than others.
sabina havkins says
Let me say that it is good to put out awareness to people about how to approach dogs, but I do not think it is fair to identify certain breeds as being more likely to bite. In fact I have been nipped by a couple of small < 20 lb breeds. (and in retrospect it was probably my fault. )
I do sympathize that your husband got bit…not good. I assume he was NOT in the off leash area. Sadly we probably have to all be aware of our surroundings and so just like women usually need to pay more attention for 'weird men" while out running etc maybe then we all have to perk up our senses for the off leash dog.
I have a reactive dog myself and am generally pretty aware if there are any off leash dogs around and if so will try to get the owners to leash them if they approach. I hope your husband heals quickly.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
But wait, why is it not fair if certain breeds are more likely to bite? My claim that all dogs can bite is true but the data that some dogs bite more often and more dangerously is also true. How is it not fair?
Kristina Becker says
Wonderful article. You addressed the data of ‘more likely to bite unprovoked or when startled’ tactfully and I appreciate it, though I am a little disappointed that many readers zeroed in on that alone. Being the owner of a doxie/chi mix, I have to be very careful with my little guy around people he doesn’t know, but also have to keep my kids informed on the signs that he is stressed out! I can ‘read’ him well, and we have not had any close calls, fortunately. I also have a lab mix puppy, and I have seen just how easily walking a puppy attracts children (of all ages!. I enjoyed the pointers on HOW to approach and how to pet the dog and it gave me some ideas like maybe when a child asks if they can pet her, tell them specific places to pet her rather than just letting them at her! Great read, thank you.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Thank you! Important topic, of course, hard to message in a way that’s real and represents the data so thank you!
Holly Clem says
Hi,Dr Swanson, as a victim of a dog bite (unprovoked, I was age 2), I wanted you to know that there is someone who read your post who agrees wholeheartedly with your entire article. Thank you for posting it. Of course not every one will ever agree on such a sensitive subject, but hopefully this article will prevent someone from being bitten.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Thanks, Holly!
Jane says
Thanks for this. A long time dog-lover and owner, I agree with you that all dogs bite. They are animals and they speak a different language than humans. Sometimes there are miscommunications and the dog feels threatened.
For my kids, we loved the “Be a Tree” bite prevention strategy, which you can learn more about at https://www.be-a-tree.com/kid%20main.htm. Humans are not always aware of the messages they send to dogs and this work really helped me and my kids know how to avoid unintentionally provoking the animal. https://www.doggonecrazy.ca/videos/BBL_Flash/josie_tree_lrg.swf
Thanks, Jane
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
“Be a tree” is a great motto. Additional advice advises if a dog bites we roll up like a rock!
John says
Your title statement is false. All dogs CAN bite with the exception of toothless dogs. But not all dogs DO bite. Case in point – my dog has never bitten anyone. How about those lovely therapy dogs roaming around many of the local hospitals? Are you going to advocate the removal of the therapy dogs because they will inevitably spread bites and rabies to sick kids? I’ve been bitten by kids more often than dogs. I think that most parents of both dogs and kids will say the same thing. If you leave 3 kids and 3 dogs alone in a room, who is most likely to bite first? Depends on the kid, right, but law of averages favors the kid will bite first. As you should know, only about 5% of dog bites get infected as opposed to 25% of human bites. You should also know that there hasn’t been a case of rabies from a domesticated animal since the 70’s, so a rabies shot after a dog bite is really overreacting.
Laura Marusinec says
Thank you! As a fellow pediatrician, I agree with all of this. I’m working with a local animal shelter in my area to promote educational materials for families choosing pets. Regarding those who are trying to defend pit bulls, I support this article 100%. If anything you are being kind. There so many medical studies that show the risk of children from pit bulls and similar dogs. I have one from 2016 that I’ve talked with the main author recently. The study clearly shows the large prevalence of severe dog bites to children by these type of dogs. This is not opinion, this is data. There are many other studys just like it.
Pitbull owners may not like it, but it’s data. I would not recommend a pitbull to a family with children. And, other people and many other pets are also at risk. I think you were very kind to them. I sure won’t be.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305270428_Characteristics_of_1616_Consecutive_Dog_Bite_Injuries_at_a_Single_Institution
athea marcos amir says
While I’m one of those freaks who can’t stop grieving for the babies killed by dogs every year, often in their cribs, my reaction to this piece was “too bad no one will listen to what she’s saying.” I love Al Gore’s title “An Inconvenient Truth,” and the truth here is that parents want to continue this game of Russian Roulette using their children as pawns. After all, they reason, most dogs don’t kill children. Good logic, right?
And when a dog does bite and kill, the language is almost identical to what the last victim’s parents said: “I can’t believe it. Sparky was the sweetest, dearest, kindest, blah, blah, blah in the world!” Who in the world could have predicted this?