Preventing dog bites: Why education matters

Understanding canine behaviour and how to respond to a dog’s communication signals is one of the most important steps we can take to keep both people and dogs safe—especially in light of the recent rise in dog bite incidents across New Zealand. 

There have been 28,000 dog-related injuries recorded in New Zealand last year, and nearly 3000 of those involved children under 15.  These incidents highlight the crucial need for improved education around canine behaviour – since educating people about why dogs bite is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent bites. This involves helping both children and adults understand the early signals - what dogs are trying to tell us - before things go horribly wrong. 

Most bites happen at home

Professor Nat Waran, an internationally recognised expert in animal behaviour and welfare, explains that most dog bite incidents involve animals familiar to the person. 

"Over 70% of bite incidents happen in home settings with dogs the person already knows, either their own pet or their friend’s/neighbour’s" she says. “That means, these situations should be preventable—with better understanding of dog behaviour, its needs (including personal space) and how and what it’s communicating. It’s important to know that dogs rarely bite without reason." 

Dogs give us warnings - we need to listen 

Understanding the underlying motivations for aggressive behaviour is critical for preventing bites from occurring.  

“Dogs rarely bite without warning,” adds Professor Waran. “Most often, they’ve been showing signs of discomfort or distress for a while.” 

Common triggers include fear, pain, resource guarding and lack of socialisation. Often, dogs are unknowingly put in stressful situations by their families. Sadly, the person involved may not notice the dog's increasing signs of discomfort, and the dog’s early warnings can escalate as it tries to protect itself.  

"I am not excusing the behaviour of a dog who bites but instead trying to explain why it can occur in some situations. Even the friendliest family dog has the potential to defend itself if they feel trapped and frightened by for example, the unwanted attention of an unsupervised child who doesn’t understand what the dog is trying to signal”. 

Children are more at risk

Research shows that children – especially boys aged 5 to 9 – are the most frequent victims of dog bites. Due to the smaller size of the child, and often the circumstances of the attack, injuries are often to the face and legs.  

It should be self-evident that all dog owners must supervise children around dogs, and dogs around children at all times, regardless of how well behaved the dog may seem. "Even children who are familiar with dogs, often don’t recognise warning signs and may interact with dogs in ways that provoke fear or discomfort," cautions Professor Waran.  

 But here’s the good news: studies also show that children, even preschoolers, can learn to recognise the signs of how a dog is feeling. Although younger children may find it difficult to understand complex cues, with proper education, even children as young as 5 or 6 can learn how to interact safely with dogs, respect their boundaries, and prevent causing fear or stress. 

 Various researchers have reported that children who receive training about dog behaviour are significantly better at judging a dogs’ emotional states with an increased frequency in recognising the relevant behaviours. 

What parents and dog owners can do

It’s essential for parents to always supervise children around dogs – even trusted family pets. Dogs shouldn’t be expected to tolerate rough or confusing behaviour from kids, and it is up to adults to step in to stablish the boundaries and provide guidance as to what is appropriate behaviour around dogs.  

In addition to incorporating training into prevention programmes for children to help reduce dog bite incidents, educating parents about the triggers leading to a dog biting is also essential for fostering safe interactions between dogs and humans.  

This also includes ensuring that all dogs are well trained and properly socialised from puppyhood; ensuring that dogs are exposed to a variety of situations (including supervised positive interactions with children) and environments helps them become well-adjusted adults.  Building trust and confidence in dogs from a young age whilst also reinforcing appropriate behaviours using positive training methods, will help set the dog up for safe interactions with children and adults later in life. 

Responsible pet ownership in preventing dog bites extends beyond just understanding dog behaviour within the home. Being a responsible dog guardian is also critical for community safety. This means ensuring dogs are; properly exercised, supervised and not left free to roam, being familiar with the requirements relating to on and off leash areas, keeping home fences secure, and ensuring that dogs are desexed, microchipped and registered with local councils.  For dogs with known behavioural issues, using a muzzle correctly can be a responsible and safe choice when out in public.

What if you’re concerned about your dog’s behaviour?

If concerning behaviour does occur, prompt action is essential. Consulting a CANZ accredited veterinary behaviourist and/or certified dog behaviour consultant can help address issues before they escalate.  

 "We believe that through comprehensive education about canine behaviour and responsible ownership, we can equip children, their parents and other dog owners with the information they need to understand how to behave around dogs, how to understand their dog’s signals and how to prevent dogs from biting," says Professor Waran. “Our dogs are cherished members of the family, and ensuring they are well-adjusted and properly managed benefits everyone – the dogs, their owners, and the wider community. 

By investing in developing a better understanding of dog emotions through research informed education about dog behaviour, dog owners in New Zealand can significantly contribute to creating safer communities while nurturing the invaluable bond between humans and their canine companions. 

Companion Animals New Zealand is committed to promoting the wellbeing of companion animals and their owners through research, education and advocacy. For more information about dog behaviour visit our website: www.companionanimals.nz 

References 

  • Lakestani N, Donaldson ML (2015) Dog Bite Prevention: Effect of a Short Educational Intervention for Preschool Children. PLoS ONE 10(8) 

  • Lakestani, Nelly & Waran, Natalie & Verga, Marina & Phillips, Claire. (2005). Dog bites in children. European Journal of Companion Animal Practice. 15