Posted on April 25, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

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Every year, approximately five million people are bitten by dogs, with children the most common victims. A major problem, it is no wonder that dog bites and children are rapidly developing legal situations – dog bite settlements, dog bite lawsuits, dog bite injuries, dog bite attorney for injured children – with very few dog owners having a dog bite attorney on hand or knowing their local dog bite law. The words “dog bite” have taken on a global phenomenon based on three main aspects: lack of training for the dog, lack of training for children around animals, and lack of training for parents or caretakers to monitor their child around a pet or any animal.

"Me and my pack dog!"

Children bite out of frustration, self-defense, stress or cause and effect. (Parenting) Dogs are no different except they can cause worse damage. Watching for signs of rising frustration in a dog around a child is necessary to prevent a dog bite from happening. Distracting and redirecting the dog immediately are two main preventives to stop a dog biting incident from occurring. Another is to monitor any young children around a dog or animal, no matter how sweet that pet is. It is still an animal with a natural instinct to protect and can become easily agitated.

Why do dogs bite children

Unfortunately, the dog has been blamed for the majority of dog bites, requiring thousands of cases requiring a dog bite attorney for injured children with high dog bite settlements. So far, we have not seen a dog bite attorney in court defending a dog who has been tormented by a child to the point of biting out of frustration. Many of these dogs are mislabeled as “aggressive” or “compulsory biters” yet are not removed out of the same situation or had it changed – instead they are removed to a shelter and/or euthanized. This is why dog bites are notoriously associated with “vicious breeds” and “neglectful abusive raising by owners.” Statics show otherwise, with the majority of dog bites to children coming from the pet dog who has never bitten before. If an aggressive dog runs and kills other animals or attacks young children, it is usually the fault of its owner with the dog suffering the consequences.

We do agree there are many dogs that simply bite out of aggression, as they are a very aggressive dog. All aggressive dogs should be strongly trained as a young puppy and carefully monitored around young children or small pets. Otherwise, do not have one in the home. Many medical issues vary from broken bones, amputation, infections, ringworm to rabies, and unexpectedly high medical bills. Dog bite attorneys know the dog bite laws in local areas and can work for either side of the situation for compensation. But the perfect answer is to not have a child bitten at all, preventing it from occurring in advance.

Preventing dog bites by controlling the dog

Very few parents have not brought a puppy or dog home “for their child.” Yet children under six years of age are basically small and unpredictable in their behavior. Combine this with the fact that not every dog is a perfect dog for a young child, regardless how cute they look. Most dog experts will advise that large, high-energy dogs, excessive barkers, or dogs with a guard dog background are to be avoided in families with young children. The problem with many parents who have small children is the lack of time to care for the puppy or dog, or monitor continuously its activities with their child. Unless a parent can commit themselves to the new dog one-hundred percent…well, do not get it. The child will not be able to begin helping in its care until they are over seven years of age.

Children of an appropriate age can benefit from a dog. The dog teaches the child compassion and empathy toward another, responsibility by helping in its care, love and patience. A decent adjustment time is necessary between a new dog and the child/children with time needed before the dog feels this new family is part of his “pack.”

The PACK mentality of the dog

Most pet dogs bite out of fear or frustration, with the first bite or two considered warning bites to the child in the face or hand area, but not medically serious. Once a dog does damage and develops serious body language showing attack (which a young child does not understand), a situation is developing that needs to be immediately corrected. First of all, try to understand why the dog attacked. Was it defending, is it afraid, or for no obvious reason?

Understanding how a dog thinks will prevent many dog bites to children from occurring. The longer the dog is in the family, the stronger and more prevalent they will view their family as part of their pack. Any attempt to alter this behavior will first require an understanding of how they think for it to be successful.

All dog packs are units with everyone having a specific position. The parents are usually viewed by the dog as the leaders, whether in a dog pack or a family they live with. The dogs or puppies are subordinate to them as they are “boss” and in control of the pack. In most packs, puppies are considered equal or less than inferior to each other. This is the same viewpoint the family dog has for young children in a house – almost as a sibling who scraps around with one another.

This involves growling when the child comes near the dog’s food bowl or water dish, his toys, his “leader”; a hierarchal relationship that most parents or dog owners do not understand. It needs to be prevented before reaching the point of serious biting and baring of the teeth, causing damage to the child.  This way dog bite injuries can be avoided along with expensive dog bite settlements.

Sources:

Parenting: “What to do about biting?”

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