Did you know that over 4.5 Million people report being bitten by a dog each year. Dog's that bite are extremely dangerous, and it is important that all dog-owners take responsibility and the appropriate measures for dealing with a biting dog. A large proportion of these victims are young children for whom, dogs become a great friend and part of the family. Most of us treat dogs this way, as an extra member of the family, however, with the frequency of dog attacks increasing, dog's are becoming a risky addition when they begin to bite neighbors, visitors, and members of the public.
So what's behind a biting dog? Dog attacks are often accredited to aggressive breeds or naturally bad dogs. The truth is that a bad dog owner raises a bad dog. A correctly trained and cared for dog will not bite or attack, and can generally be trusted when visitors come or out in public. All it takes is a quick flick through the local newspapers to find that the dogs committing these attacks are the dogs that haven't been spayed or neutered, that haven't been properly trained or cared for.
It is up to you as a dog owner to stop your dog biting!
The options for training your dog not to bite are endless. Spaying or neutering is a popular option that your local vet can advise you on. This can decrease aggressive tendencies and dramatically reduce the chances of your dog attacking.
Just like children, your pet needs to be socialized. Introduce your dog to other dogs and people, let him/her learn to deal with unfamiliar faces and situations. This will help in future situations, so your dog won't turn to aggression or biting when around other dogs, visitors or out in public.
As well as general dog training, you must investigate your options for obedience training. If you want to have control of your dog, and have him obey your commands in public, then proper obedience training is an essential way to develop a healthy relationship from day one. The training includes teaching your dog good habits, using positive reinforcement to encourage these good habits. You will also address bad habits, small annoyances such as chewing your favorite slippers, and more vital aspects such as teaching your dog that biting will not be tolerated, to remove your dog's aggressive tendencies.
An important thing to remember is that your dog is another member of your family, your dog should be treated as family, and that appropriate behavior is expected, just as you would with children.
As a responsible dog owner you must integrate this training into every day life, to let your dog know that biting is not necessary, and simply unacceptable. For the safety of your family, friends and neighbors you must be proactive in dealing with dog biting. Remember, not every dog owner acts and trains their dog responsibly. You and your family must be aware of dangerous, un-trained and mistreated dogs, and protect yourselves from becoming another dog bite victim.
All dog's have the potential to bite, whether it be out of fear, asserting dominance, or in defense. Here are a few quick pointers to keep yourself and your family safe from dog attacks.
- Never run at your dog, instead stand still, with arms at your sides, looking away from the dog. - Be careful not to ?attack? a dog while playing. Rough play can be perceived as an unprovoked attack, and can send your dog into defense mode or enrage him/her. - Staring into a dog's eyes offers a dominance challenge, inviting your dog to attack. - Try not to interfere with new puppies. - Respect your dog's privacy, just like people, dogs have their own needs. - Never tease your dog. This actually enrages a dog, and will cause dog biting.
After you have been bitten by a dog it is important to determine whether the animal is a stray or not. If it is a stray and you cannot identify it, you will have to face the possibility that you might need to get rabies treatments just to be sure that you are not at risk. After you are bitten, you need to get medical attention immediately. However, the decision as to whether you need rabies shots must be left to the sound discretion of your doctor.
Also keep in mind that if the dog that bit you is being kept or a pet of another person then you are probably entitled to receive compensation to pay for you medical bills and even your pain and suffering. If the dog owner is insured, you might get a call from his or her insurance company through one of their adjusters. If this happens, don’t forget to ask for the name of the insurance, office address, telephone number, claim number and the limit of the insurance as to the medical expenses alone. Do not discuss other money matters, write anything or meet with the insurance company’s representative. Always bear in mind, especially if you are serious in making any claims against the one responsible for the dog that bit you, that you are entitled to a lawyer and must seek one at the earliest instance to protect your rights.
As a dog bite victim, you necessarily incur different kinds of damage to include actual medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional damage and loss of earnings to name a few. A lawyer experienced in representing victims of dog bites will definitely provide you with the protection you need as well as the value of the claims you seek.
If you opt not to retain a lawyer to champion your cause, you run the risk of being shortchanged or worse, your claim might not be processed at all. Always remember that insurance company representatives, they are called adjusters, will never treat you fairly. You are actually not dealing with a living breathing person but a faceless and cold corporate entity who makes it their business to settle as fewer claims as possible in order to make them more profit.
Please bear in mind also that future surgeries, if one is needed, will be considered as “cosmetic", hence, they will not be covered by your own health insurance. The way to recover your losses is to make it part of your claim at the first instance so you will not be burdened and saddened when you need further surgeries and you later find out that you don’t have money for the operation.
Finally, in order to protect others who might be victimized by the same dog that bit you, especially when you think that the dog poses an actual threat, you might: go to small claims court to file your claim (this is the avenue you may seek if there is no blood after the bite, no scarring, minor pain); file a complaint with the police, homeowner’s association or any organization who makes it their business to make the vicinity a dog bite free community; write a report to animal control officers; make claims against the insurance of the dog owner which will put pressure to the owner of the dog to keep the dog away from the public otherwise his premium might become higher or it may be cancelled by his insurance company altogether; or start a citizen action team where the members pressure irresponsible dog owners to be more careful and responsible in keeping their dogs so that they will not pose threats to the inhabitants of the community.
Both Colin Pederson & Lala C. Ballatan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Colin Pederson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets. Colin is a self-confessed ?Dog Fanatic? residing in California with his wife and black Lab Casey. Colin runs ?Dog Obedience Advice,? offering free advice on dealing with how to. Colin Pederson's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.
Lala C. Ballatan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Legal Matters, Mortgage and Car Accidents. Our are expert in dealing with. Lala C. Ballatan's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.