Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Helpful Tips to Prevent Dog Bite Accidents...

Helpful Tips to Prevent Dog Bite Accidents

All dogs have a tendency to bite, no matter how social your pet can be; and we all know how painful a dog bite is. Not just that, but much more on the health hazard a dog’s bite may offer, think of the deadly rabies virus.

As a responsible dog owner you should ensure that your pet dog does not pose any threat and danger when he is around other people especially with playful kids. Numerous studies show that a dog’s aggressive and non-aggressive behavior greatly depends on his environment and training.

Below are helpful tips you can do to improve your pet’s behavior around people and preventing your dog from biting.

Socialize your pup. Start socializing your puppy when he is about 8 to 12 weeks of age. During this early stage, it is best to introduce your pet pup to other people as well as other animals, just make sure that these other animals are already vaccinated so that your pup will not be able to acquire harmful diseases during interaction. Let your pet interact with strangers in a friendly environment such as in parks, pet stores and puppy classes. Do not forget to praise your pet if he shows a positive behavior during interaction.

Teach your pet not to bite. It is very typical for dogs to mouth, chew and bite everything they can put their mouth into. But you must be able to teach your dog when this act is no longer appropriate. If your pet starts growling or biting at your kids or at you or any member of the family, be prompt on distracting him with a quick sound. You can call his name using a firm voice or can simply clap your hands once. Just ensure that the noise you make is heard by your pet at the precise moment he is biting so that he will be able to associate the clapping, for example, as a signal for him to stop.

Dog control. Keeping your dog on a firm leash whenever you are out in public is one way of preventing bites. Statistics shows that 82 percent of fatal dog bites are caused by unrestrained dogs. When you are with strangers or outside of the house, make sure that your pet is calm and relaxed; tensed and startled pets tend to bite easily. Provide fencing around your house if you want to leave your pet out in your yard.

Dog behavior alert. Keeping an eye of your dog’s behavior is the most crucial part of preventing your dog from biting. Avoid showing your dog any consenting act if he starts growling, snapping, or biting family members; growling or snapping at strangers; or extreme fear of strangers. If your pet starts exhibiting this kind of behavior, visit your veterinarian for help.

Alter your pet. Have you pet dog spayed or neutered. Territorial instincts and territorial aggression of your pet will be decreased when he is altered. This is due to the fact that spaying and neutering decreases the levels of progesterone and testosterone in your pet’s body that also causes aggressive behavior.




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