Most dogs do not want to be petted on top of the head. Robin Ebert’s Fenway is showing with his body language ( ears back, mouth closed, and leaning back to avoid) that he does not like her reaching over the top of his head.
April 7–13 is National Bite Prevention Week. The latest data released by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says that although the vast majority of the 88 million canine companions in the United States live a peaceful coexistence in their communities, dog bites are still considered a serious public health risk. Over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year.
Children are at particular risk of serious dog bites. The AVMA states that “more than 50 percent of all dog-related injuries are to children, and for those under four years of age, those bites are often to vulnerable head and neck regions.”
Trainers have a saying “all dogs have teeth.” This means even the most docile dog has the capacity to bite given the right circumstances. But there are measures you can take to prevent dog bites and to prevent your dog from being in a position in which he may feel the need to bite.
Of all the steps to prevent bites, whether it is to prevent being the one bitten or to prevent your dog from biting, one of the most effective ones is to understand canine body language and respect it. Sometimes people will say “the bite came out of nowhere.” This is very rarely true. The problem is dogs speak with their bodies in sometimes subtle ways we don’t understand or miss observing, or we ignore it.
A dog that wants to be petted will make physical contact with you first and may lean or rub on you. Charleigh is a dog that leans for petting. Charleigh is owned by the Pumphrey family.
Obvious signs a dog may bite are growling and snarling. Look for signs the dog is uncomfortable in the situation, including attempting to move away, lowering his head, licking his lips, yawning, holding still/freezing, looking away, or staring at you without blinking, or hair standing on end (piloerection). A wagging tail is not a good indicator of a dog’s emotions. A low, slow tail wag is generally a good sign. A tail that is wagging rapidly and held high is indicative of excitement or high arousal that may predict aggressive action.
Being able to understand your dog’s emotions through his body language is only part of the prevention strategy. You must listen to and respect what your dog is trying to say. Everyone wants to have a dog people admire and want to pet. But dogs are like people, some are extroverts and some are introverts. Your job as a dog owner is to be your dog’s guardian and not put him in a position in which he feels he needs to escalate his behavior to a bite. It is okay to tell approaching people your dog doesn’t like to be petted. And if your dog is uncomfortable, it is safest not to let someone hand him a treat. Sometimes a dog will want the treat badly enough to take it from the stranger, but when the treat is gone, your dog will realize how uncomfortably close he is to the stranger and may react badly. If you want the approaching stranger to give your dog a treat, have them roll the treat to him so he can associate the treat with the stranger but not have to come close to get it.
We now know that reaching towards a dog to let them sniff you before petting can be perceived by dogs as a threatening gesture.
The approach or presence of children, especially younger children and toddlers, creates a situation in which you should remain even more alert. Young children and toddlers move differently than adults. Children approach with jerky movements and noises your dog may not be accustomed to. The responsibility of preventing dog bites lies both with the dog owner and the parent. If you are the parent of a small child, you should not allow your child to approach a dog. As a dog owner, you may need to physically prevent an approaching child to reach your dog and this may mean stepping in front of your dog or moving away as a child approaches. If you are certain your dog is comfortable with children, you should take control of the interaction and show the child how to properly pet your dog.
Children are the most susceptible to dog bites. They make noises and movements that can startle or scare dogs. More than 50 percent of all dog related injuries are to children.
Bite prevention program presenters used to coach people before attempting to pet is to ask the owner first, then let the dog sniff your hand, and then pet. As we learn more about canine body language and become more aware of dog behavior, we understand this is not the best way to ask to pet a dog. Some dogs perceive a hand reaching toward them as a threatening gesture and may bite defensively.
The best way to safely pet a dog is to allow the dog to request the petting. A dog that wants to be petted will make it clear by making physical contact first ( not just sniffing). The dog will push himself into you, lean on you, push his head on you, lay his head on you, or make some other close contact. If a dog does this, you know he wants to be petted. Dogs prefer long strokes down the sides or back or scratching under the chin. Most do not like to be petted on top of the head and will avoid that contact.
There is a new online program for parents and children that teaches about bite prevention. The National Dog Bite Prevention Coalition and the Center for Canine Behavior Studies have launched a website, www.bebitesmart. org, for parents and children to teach about bite prevention. Another recommended educational website is Family Paws, www.familypaws.com.
Remember, it’s best to be smart and safe when interacting with a dog; all dogs have teeth.
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