May 16-22 2010 is Dog Bite Prevention Week! Don’t become a statistic.

Did you know that 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Among adults, males are more likely to be bitten than females. Adults with 2 or more dogs living in the household are 5 times more likely to bitten then those living with out dogs.

The ASPCA  states that 50 percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday? Did you know that 800,000 bites a year are severe enough to require medical treatment, while 1 to 2 million go unreported? The vast majority of dog bites are from a dog known to the child—his or her own pet, a neighbor’s or friend’s. You can help prevent this from happening to your child.

Here are some tips to help prevent dog bites:

1. Spay/neuter your pet, this will help reduce aggressive tendencies
2. NEVER leave a dog alone with an infant or young child
3. Properly train and socialize any dog you bring into your home
4. Dont approach an unfamiliar dog
5. If your dog starts to display aggressive behaviors seek professional help
6. Keep an eye on your dog when around other people or animals.

Here are some tips for children to help prevent a bite:

1. Don’t stare a dog in the eyes, eye contact could be seen as a form of confrontation to a dog.
2. Let the dog approach you, not all dogs want to be approached.
3. Don’t run or scream if a loose dog approaches you, stay still like a tree. If you run the dog will most likely chase.
4. Always ask permission to pet someones dog.
5. If there is a loose dog, tell an adult immediately.
6. Don’t bother a dog while they are eating or sleeping.
7. Dont hug or kiss dogs, instead just pet them softly.

Remember that dog(s) are animals that we share our lives with but they are still animals. Enjoy your dog(s) and make sure that you keep yourself and your family safe!

Need training? On The Ball K9 Training offers training in the North Texas area including Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Sanger, Gainesville, & Krum areas. Contact us for a FREE demonstration and Evaluation with your dog.