Why Dogs Bite Children And How You Can Avoid It

There is a reason why a dog is called the man’s best friend; they elevate stress and are fun to be around. But sometimes, all the fun can turn into a nightmare when your dog starts biting strangers, especially kids.

In the US alone, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year, with almost one million requiring medical attention and damages estimated to be around USD one billion.

If you have a dog or a puppy which is untrained, you must be scared if it is ever going to bite a kid in future. Here are some reasons why dogs bite children.

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#1. Protecting Possessions

Dogs usually attack while protecting their possessions like toy, food, water or resting place. This kind of behavior can be minimized with early training of the pet. Dogs also bite while protecting the property of their owner. If a dog sees a stranger like kids playing near your house, it might attack them.

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#2. Fear

Children often provoke or frighten the dog by coming too close or hugging it. When a stranger does it, a dog’s first instinct is that the child is a threat to its safety and in order to protect itself, it attacks the child.

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#3. Pain

Even the friendliest of dogs bite when they are in pain. They may be physically hurt from the outside or there could be underlying problems like hip dysplasia or otitis which is causing distress to your pet. If your dog suddenly starts attacking people, consider scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian soon.

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#4. Maternal Instincts

Bitches are very protective of their puppies. Hence, when it considers a child to be a threat to its puppies, it bites.

(Image Courtesy: Good Neighbor Vet)

#5. Prey Drive

Prey drive is the instinctive behavior of hunting animals to find and capture the prey. That is why when you suddenly drive, jog or run past a dog, it chases you and attempts to bite.

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Now the question arises, how to avoid a dog attack on a child. Here are some ways:

#1. Understand Your Pet’s Needs

Just like a human, a dog can get irritated as well. Kids wish to tirelessly play with their furry pets and pull their hair, ears and tails, but this kind of behavior annoys and irritates the pet, and provokes a negative reaction.

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#2. Give Your Dog Space

Since dogs attack to protect their property, make sure your kids never disturb your dog while it is having its meal. If you ever observe your dog protecting its toys, water dish and other possessions in the presence of kids, then you must consider getting an expert’s help.

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#3. Identify The Telltale Signs

Pets convey their feelings through an array of signs, when they are irritated by kids. If you observe your pet moving away, turning its head away, licking its chops, yawning, scratching itself or growling near a child, it means the dog is annoyed.

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#4. Socialize Your Dog From Young Age

Dogs that are kept in isolated environment feel uncomfortable around strangers and are more likely to bite. Socialize your dog with new people and other pets, so it feels comfortable when approached by strangers.

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#5. Monitoring Child’s Behavior

Most dog bites cases occur because of the pet being provoked intentionally or unintentionally by the child. Tell your kids and neighbor kids not to frighten the dog or attempt to hug it.

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Tell us your experiences if you have ever been attacked by a dog or if your pet has ever attacked anyone through comments below.