What can you do to avoid a dog biting you?
Dogs do not always act according to specific rules, and any dog could bite you if it feels like it. However, understanding a little about how dogs think may help you avoid getting bitten.
The first thing to know is that some dogs are more likely to bite you than others. Certain breeds have it in their nature to attack. Others become aggressive due to the way their owners raise them. If your child is looking for a dog to stroke, steer them away from anything that looks like it is meant to go head to head with mountain lions or armed robbers.
3 things that may cause a dog to snap at you
Here are some of the reasons dogs bite, along with how you can reduce that risk:
- It thinks you are prey: You see a dog and start walking faster, so it does too. You start running, so it does too. Stopping can often result in the dog leaving you alone before it gets so excited with the chase that it bites you.
- It is not sure what you are: Your oversize polarized wraparound shades combined with your peaked cap and double walking poles leave the dog unsure what species you belong to. It decides attack is the best form of defense. Removing your hat and shades may be all it needs to recognize you pose no threat.
- It is defending its territory: The area a dog thinks it must protect may exceed the boundaries of its owner’s land. Sometimes diverting course away from the property may be all you need to do for the dog to relax.
While dogs may have a reason for thinking they need to attack you, it does not make it OK. Finding the owner and holding them responsible for their dog’s actions will be essential to cover the costs that can result from a dog bite injury.