Preventing dog bites

I was saddened to hear about the recent death of a young boy in a dog attack. The general factors that contribute to severe dog attacks have been highlighted in recent studies.

Children, especially boys, are particularly at risk. On the prairies, rural communities have a higher rate of severe dog bites.

Children who are active outdoors can be attacked by strange, unrestrained dogs off the owner’s property. Leash bylaws help protect against this type of attack.

More commonly, bites occur at home. The big risks are the absence of an adult in the immediate area and inappropriate behaviour by the child. Two risky behaviours are leaning over a dog and putting your face immediately in front of the dog’s head. Direct parental supervision can help educate child and dog about appropriate behaviour.

Another risky behaviour, more likely in older people, is attempting to separate fighting dogs. The Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association runs a program called “be a tree” to help guide appropriate dog-people interactions.

Fatal attacks are more likely when the dog has been kept isolated from regular, positive human interactions and are less likely when the dog is a family dog. Intact dogs are also more likely to inflict severe bites.

Many studies fail to find an association with breed. In general, medium to large dogs bite harder and are more likely to cause serious bites. Occasionally, terrier breeds (Pit Bulls are terriers), Dobermans, and German Shepherds are singled out as being riskier. In some studies, Labradors and Retrievers are less likely to cause severe bites.

Jonathan Naylor, Saskatoon