Tuesday, November 24, 2009

How a Little Prevention Can Go Long Way in Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

 
How a Little Prevention Can Go Long Way in Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

One of the most biggest misconceptions that most people
have is that their own dogs won't bite. While it is natural
that everybody feels some level of respect for a big,
growling dog we are becoming too nonchalant about our own
dogs. So how can you be sure that your dog will never bite
anyone?

A dog bite injury can lead to some serious, even life
threatening injuries, some even requiring corrective
surgery. There is also the problem of psychological,
emotional, and physical scars from the dog bite injuries
that will need to be overcome. There can also be
staggering financial and legal costs as well.

While some dog biting is fairly common in young puppies
while playing or teething, you need to start to train your
dog that biting is not acceptable. In puppies this is
called 'mouthing' and this is something to keep in mind
since puppies have sharp teeth and while they are playing
it is inevitable that he will use those teeth.

Preventing these dog bite injuries is a necessity both
medically and legally, and this is why dog owners have to
be responsible for their dogs. A dog owner has to recognize
that any dog of any breed is capable of biting someone, and
even a 'nice' dog can suddenly snap and bite if he becomes
frightened, or hurt in any way.

Obedience Training

One way to help to prevent these dog bite injuries is to
invest in a good dog obedience training program. Dogs that
are not trained or not trained well are much more likely to
bite. Get him socialized early with other puppies, and
under calm and positive circumstances, allow him to also
meet and interact with other people, including children.
This is because all dogs are descendants of dog packs and
where dogs often exhibit aggressive behavior having to do
with dominance.

Spay and Neuter your Dog

Another good preventative for either minor or devastating
dog bite injuries is to spay or neuter your dog as this
will eliminate or reduce aggression levels in both male and
female dogs. This will also prevent many health problems
later in his life.

Why do Dogs Bite?

Learning why dogs bite can make it possible for you to
understand some behaviors and to avoid them. You can also
learn to train your dog to prevent possible dog bite
injuries. Despite what many people may think, dogs don't
bite because of aggression, but because of fear and
surprise. This is why socializing your dog when he a puppy
is so important to get him used to other people and other
dogs.

Other Things You Can Do

Be sure to take your dog to the vet on a regular basis and
also make sure that all his vaccinations are kept up to
date. Get your dog licensed and also keep his paperwork up
to date.

Don't allow your dog to wander freely, in fact he should be
contained on your property and you should be able to
control his access to the street.

If you follow these common sense steps you can greatly
reduce an attack or dog bites by a lot. Just be a
responsible owner and start working with your puppy or dog
today.

About the Author:

J. Mahoney is the owner of Dog Trainers Ideas.com. Just
feel free to visit http://www.dog-trainers-ideas.com ,
where you will find a resource providing you with advice on
all aspects of dog training, house training and dog health.
If you want to find more info on Training Choke Collars,
http://budurl.com/cokecollar2 .

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