IT is no surprise to me that there has been a dramatic number of dog bites to humans in the last few years.
In Canada there is no reliable current data on the number of dog bites per year, but according to State Farm insurance in the United States, there were 3,800 dog bite claims in 2011. Those were claims to insurance companies where a payout was expected as a result of a person getting bitten.
I'm sure if you were to include the number of dog bites that were unreported to insurance companies that figure would probably be larger.
In one article I read the conclusion that was made, as to why there was such an increase in dog bites, was because there are more people who own dogs.
That's like saying that the reason there are more childhood bullies is because there are more children.
Dogs are aggressive and bite due to inadequate training, socialization, a dog owner's lack of knowledge about dog care and behavioural management, irresponsibility and the nauseating human condition of unaccountability, which seems to be increasing.
In essence: bad canine parenting.
Yes, it is true that dogs suffering from pain, or other physical, medical or neurological issues have less tolerance and are more likely to bite, but that is when dog owners need to be extra vigilant in managing their dog in situations that may cause a dog to bite. Be aware, be proactive.
Raising a dog to be wellbehaved is a lot of work. It isn't easy at all; it's not at all like Hollywood moviemakers would like you to believe.
One issue often overlooked, or maybe ignored, when raising a dog is that dogs solve their issues with aggression (much like people these days).
In our human world it is unacceptable for a dog to do this, but in the canine world it's what they do. If you are not aware of, or ignore this behavioural trait of a dog, then someone will get bitten if you are unwilling to manage your dog responsibly.
My German shepherd Zumi is not an easy dog to have. She is a high-drive, highly protective and reactive dog, and what I consider an "experienced-dog-owneronly" kind of dog.
She is good with kids as long as they behave themselves. Anyone who is inexperienced with dogs and does not understand that she (like many dogs) has a tolerance level that fluctuates around children would assume she is fine with kids and place her in a situation that could lead to a bite.
As an example, we were at a local park a while back. A group of young children came up asking to pet her. Zumi gets anxious with many children but is great with kids one at a time, so I told the kids to come and say hello one at a time.
All went well until a boy ran in, pushing past the last boy and began poking Zumi in the face. Alarmed, I grabbed his hand and said, "Don't do that!"
When I let go he unexpectedly turned and grabbed Zumi by her tail. If I was an inexperienced dog owner and unsure of how to manage Zumi, she would have bitten this child for sure.
When you are a dog owner, a good one, you realize quickly that non-dog people (and many dog people) don't know how to behave around dogs.
It is our job as dog owners to responsibly manage our dogs and hopefully educate those who don't know any better. Education, responsibility and accountability is what will prevent dog bites.
