Dog Bites and Children: All You Need to Know

Dogs are an essential family member in 37% of US homes but are a potential source of injury for children. Because children cannot understand dog temperament, they are the most common victims of dog bites.

Parents need to understand that dogs are no substitute for adult supervision. Children may not know how to interact with dogs, so it's up to parents to learn about dog safety and take precautions.

Dog bites can cause severe physical and psychological damage. Fortunately, most dog bites are preventable. Understanding the underlying reasons for a dog bite is critical in preventing them.

Why Do Dogs Bite?

Dogs bite for several reasons. You may scream and frighten a dog. A dog can also bite to protect their food or something valuable, like puppies. In rare cases, the victim may not need to provoke a dog. For instance, when a dog is ill it may be more aggressive and protective. 

Common sense says we can prevent dog bites when we avoid certain behaviors around dogs. Here are a couple of things you should never do:

• Pull on a dog's ears or tail
• Growl at a dog
• Kick a dog
• Corner a dog
• Pet a strange dog

Why Are Children At Greater Risk?

An adult generally has better judgment than a child. Babies and toddlers can be intimidating to dogs as they become more agile and mobile. Preschool children are especially very impulsive. 

Innocent actions such as jumping on their back, hugging, or petting may invoke aggression in a dog. Unfortunately, children are not adept at picking up subtle warning signs of an agitated dog. An agitated dog may bite a child.

Adults can fend off a dog attack, while children cannot defend themselves. A typical dog bite occurs to the neck, head, and face of a child and may require complex treatment.

Common Dog Bite Myths

A dog bite on a child is usually met with much emotion and confusion. Parents and dog owners generally lack knowledge of safety practices.

Separating myths from truths may help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Myth 1: Dogs Socialized With Children Won't Bite

Socializing your dog reduces the chances of your dog biting. Introducing your dog to people and other animals while young makes the animal more comfortable as it gets older.

However, socialization alone is not enough to prevent a dog from biting. A dog can bite a family or a neighbor's child due to pain, fear, or resource guarding. Socialized dogs can still bite strangers if provoked. 

Myth 2: Only Large Breeds Bite

Any pure or mixed-breed dog can bite a child. Small dogs like the Chihuahuas may also bite when anxious or threatened. Some large dog breeds that are universally known to be vicious include:

• Pitbulls
• Rottweilers
• German shepherds

Myth 3: A Wagging Tail Is a Sign of Friendliness

A canine's behavior is easy to misinterpret, even for adults. A tail wag is often misconstrued as a sign of friendliness, but it could mean many things.

Dogs wag tails when they are ready to "interact" by playing, greeting, or fighting. Observe the rotation, speed, and tension of a tail to help you understand its significance.

A friendly tail wagging is a full-body wag with a flexible swinging of the tail from side to side. An unfriendly tail wag looks different. Before biting a child, a dog may display an unfriendly tail wag.

Immediately after a biting incident, consult your doctor to stop the spread of infections, if any. Pursuing dog bite damages is uncomfortable, especially when the person liable is a family or a friend.

Contact Frank Penney Injury Lawyers to get damages the insurance owes you. We ensure the legal process is fair and doesn't get in the way of your personal connections.