HOW TO ELICIT A DOG BITE - OR NOT

by Malcolm Riordan

A 2009 study by The Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs reviewed over 2,000 incidents in which dogs had bitten people. It made for some interesting reading and conclusions. Some of the key findings and informed speculations from that report are listed here.

1) The single most common bite circumstance was that the dog was "running at large" - unfenced, unleashed, or otherwise unsupervised. Many bites were not a result of aggression towards humans, but occurred when a human intervened in fighting or play between dogs.

2) Almost half of all bites occurred at home, usually when a dog was protecting their food or toys. Less commonly, bites happened when the dog was protecting property.

3) Male dogs bit people twice as often as female dogs and caused more serious injuries. Male dogs were more likely to bite while protecting food, toys, or property. Female dogs were more likely to bite a person during dog-to-dog aggression.

4) Adolescent dogs between one and four years of age were responsible for the most bites. Other age-specific findings were that puppies bite people mostly while playing, adolescent dogs while running at large, and older dogs while protecting property.

5) Don't judge a dog only by its "cover" (breed): any dog can bite, given certain circumstances.

Victimology

1) Children under 14 were bitten disproportionately, at double the rate to their population.

2) Nine- and ten-year-old boys were the most common victims. Children are most often bitten while left unsupervised with a dog, provoking a dog, as a result of play bites, or when the dog was startled.

3) Adult humans are more often bitten by an at-large dog, a dog protecting its property, and in dog-to-dog aggression.

4) Males under age 15 were more likely to be bitten than females under age 15. No differences were found between adult males and adult females. Bites in children usually are less severe than adult bites.

5) A greater proportion of children's bites came from puppies. Many came from small breed dogs.

"But Your Honor, the human asked for it!"

The study emphasized that any dog will bite in certain situations, though most often because of factors determined or caused by the victim.

While the study did note that humans elicited dog bites more often than unprovoked aggressive bad dogs provided them; the action recommendations were only of a general nature and did not encompass training methods for either species.

Children and adolescent dogs, both with their extraordinary energies, have special exercise, socialization, and behavioral needs. The unbridled, unfocused enthusiasm of either can go in wrong directions! This is magnified when the young of the two species swirl their enthusiasms together. Responsible parents and dog owners should ensure safe and healthy outlets for the considerable spirit of their charges.

Always supervise children and dogs when they are interacting. It is important to educate your children about how to be safe around dogs. Children who learn to treat dogs with care, consideration, and respect will be safest. When selecting a dog for your family, consider the dog's unique behavioral attributes and history with children.

The Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs recommends that dog owners responsibly fence, leash, and supervise their dogs. When selecting a dog, choose one that is appropriate to your lifestyle and the environment in which you live. Your dog should be well socialized with people and other dogs. The ultimate goal of socialization is to be able to take your dog any place, into any situation, and have him/her stay calm, relaxed, and confident.

See the entire study at Living Safely With Dogs.

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