Sometimes man’s best friend decides to be not so friendly and ends up biting another dog, an adult, or a child. A dog biting incident can be stressful for both parties involved and can cause both physical and emotional injury to the one who suffered the bite. Our skilled dog bite attorneys at Hardesty, Tyde, Green, Ashton & Clifton offer the following advice to avoid dog bites:
- Avoid unfamiliar dogs. Dogs that are unfamiliar with a person who approaches them often become easily frightened and prone to potentially biting. Even if the dog looks “nice” a person should ask the owner or handler about the temperament and permission before engaging an unfamiliar dog. Stray dogs also fit into this category. Stray dogs should not be approached due to the possibility of them having rabies. Instead of trying to approach or capture a stray dog Animal Control should be called.
- Avoid aggressive breeds. Studies have shown that most dog bite incidents are caused by what has been labeled as “aggressive dog breeds”. A few examples of these breeds are Rottweiler, Pit Bull, German Shepard, Boxer, Chow Chow, and Wolf hybrids. While these breeds are often considered aggressive that does not mean all the dogs of the breed are particularly so. General discretion would be taken when coming into contact with dogs of these breeds, especially if you are not personally familiar with the dog.
- Approach dogs with care. Often, dog bites can occur when a dog is caught off guard such as when they are eating, pregnant, caring for puppies, or injured. During such times, dogs often emit aggressive behavior, which is when dog owners are most likely to be bitten by their own dog.
- Teach children early about approaching dogs. Every year many dog bites occur due to children unknowingly approaching a potentially aggressive dog. Parents should teach children to ask permission from the dog’s owner before engaging with the dog, to avoid teasing or startling a dog, and to avoid direct eye contact. Dogs often attack children in family settings due to seeing them as being at an “equal or lesser rank” within their pack. To avoid this, parents should teach their children how to assert their command to a dog in their household.
If you or a loved one have been involved with a dog bite and require legal assistance, contact Hardesty, Tyde, Green, Ashton & Clifton today to discuss your case with our dog bite attorneys.
