The second full week in April is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and it’s a great time to talk about something people often misunderstand.
Dog bites can happen for a lot of reasons, but most of them come down to one thing: lack of knowledge. As much as we love dogs, many people still miss or misread the signs that a dog is upset, uncomfortable, or scared.
Sometimes, pet owners put too much trust in the idea that their dog would never bite. But even the gentlest dog has limits. Assuming otherwise isn’t just risky, it’s also unfair to the dog. Biting doesn’t usually come out of nowhere. For dogs, it’s often a last resort after other signals have been ignored.
We can all agree that no one wants to see a dog bite happen, especially when children are the most common victims. So what can we do to help prevent bites?
Thankfully, a few simple steps go a long way:
- Always supervise interactions between children and pets. Kids and dogs can’t be expected to manage these situations on their own.
- Respect that dogs are dogs. They aren’t people. They have their own needs, instincts, and ways of communicating.
We love to say dogs are part of the family, and that’s absolutely true. But they are still a different species. Living with dogs means learning to see things a little from their point of view.
There’s a lot more to explore when it comes to bite prevention, but starting with these basics can help prevent many incidents, especially at home with your own pets.
Want to learn more? These resources are a great place to start:
AVMA Dog Bite Prevention Toolkit, including a video series for kids:
ASPCA Dog Bite Prevention, including body language tips and ways to reduce risk:
ASPCA Safety Tips for Dog Bite Prevention Week, including a graphic:
