Reduce your risk of dog bites

According to the NHS, there were 7,227 hospital admissions for dog bites in England in 2019-2020, which represents a 6% increase from the previous year. While some dog bites may be minor, others can be severe and even life-threatening. Northern Life sat down with dog trainer and behaviourist Shirley King to understand why dogs bites occur and get her tips on staying safe.

Dogs can bite for a variety of reasons, including fear, aggression, pain, and protection. By understanding why a dog may be more likely to bite, you can take steps to minimise the risk of an attack. Shirley has worked with dogs for over 35 years and uses her experience and knowledge to educate about dog behaviours. She emphasises the need to understand that all dog breeds can bite. “The most common dog to bite in the UK is the cute Labrador. Any dog, no matter what breed, can bite or attack at any time.”

Shirley says the most important thing to instil in people even dogs who have never been bitten before will bite under certain circumstances. “Many of us are guilty of believing that our dog would never bite. I know and love my dog however, I know it’s normal dog behaviour to bite when threatened, scared or in pain,” Shirley explains. “The most common comment I hear from dog owners is ‘my dog would never bite’, and when it does happen, they say, ‘oh, there was no warning’, but there have been thousands of warnings; it’s just that many people aren’t aware of the signs. No dog, unless it has a specific gene problem, is aggressive for no reason. Aggression is normal dog behaviour; it’s just how they communicate. They don’t have the ability to plan, they just react, and that is where the problem comes from. It’s our behaviour causing them to react.”

Shirley has seen this behaviour first-hand as a dog trainer. “When dog owners are waiting their turn at dog agility training centres and the dog is excited, they tap the dog and give the dog an automatic ‘stop it!’ It’s an automatic reaction for humans to do when they’re in a queue and embarrassed and want the dog to behave; it’s just a reaction to get a quick result from the dog. So, when a child comes along to stroke the dog, the dog remembers that hand movement, and they snap.”

“Many people try to keep more control over their dogs if they show aggression by restraining the dog more, by controlling it, being angrier with it, pushing it, pulling it, keeping it on a short lead. All these things make a dog’s behaviour worse because they don’t have any freedom.” While many call for tougher laws as dog bites increase, Shirley doesn’t believe that would help. Instead, she believes there should be areas provided for dogs to exercise that aren’t local parks.

The majority of bites are in the home of a dog known to the victim. “The dogs are frustrated, they don’t get enough mental stimulation, we teach them all the wrong things with our hand movements, we shout at them, we don’t have time for them – but they’re not bred for that, they’re wild animals! We need to think about their mental stimulation as well as their exercise.”

While ensuring dogs are getting enough stimulation to keep them happy, Shirley also points to keep on top of their physical health, as even the most docile dog can snap if in pain. As dogs age, conditions such as arthritis can cause discomfort. Regular check-ups at the vet are best to ensure your dog is healthy.

Pet ownership has rocketed since the pandemic as working habits and values continue to evolve, and with this increase has come the increase in dog bites. Many experts throughout the pandemic were becoming concerned that the lack of socialisation new puppies were experiencing during lockdown was going to lead to an increase in bites as these puppies aged. Socialising dogs from a young age can help them become more comfortable and less fearful around people and other animals. Proper training can also help a dog learn appropriate behaviours and reduce the risk of aggressive or protective behaviour.

New puppy owners will have been discovering that the reality of owning a puppy isn’t all that cute, but involves lots of early mornings, housetraining and being driven barking mad by excitable nips by their sharp little fangs. But while puppy bites can be annoying and painful, Shirley explains this needs to be handled correctly. Puppies bite for a reason; they are learning how hard to bite for survival, fighting and play. Never tell a puppy off for biting merely teach him that it hurts you with a loud ‘ouch’ followed by offering him something to bite on, like a rawhide chew or a dog toy, praising him as he chews it, “Good boy, chew, chew.”

Puppies bite for a reason, they are learning how hard to bite for survival, fighting and play.

In addition to socialisation and training, it is important to always supervise dogs around children and to teach children how to interact with dogs safely. Children should be taught to always ask permission before petting a dog and to approach slowly and calmly. They should also be taught to avoid approaching dogs that are eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies. “I have spent a number of years going into primary schools to help teach young children how to stay safe around dogs,” Shirley explains, “I discuss how dogs communicate and what they do and don’t like, in the hope that they stay safe and become better dog owners in the future.”

Shirley rescued Sam, a Border Collie, from being put down due to a history of biting. “When my son was born six years later, from the minute he could grab and crawl, I had to teach him ‘don’t touch doggie, doggie bites’.” She believes many families avoid teaching toddlers not to touch the dog in case they grow up scared of them but she explains “It didn’t stop my son growing up loving dogs, but gave him a healthy respect for dogs.”

Northern Life May/June 23