Ever hear one of those so-called dog ‘experts’ who tells you the best way to avoid getting attacked by a dog is to ‘show no fear’? Well, it’s pretty difficult to tell a one year old child who’s been snatched from the arms of a seven year old girl how to show no fear. And besides, how exactly do we convince an attacker that we’re not fearful about something when in reality we are stone cold petrified? It’s impossible and foolish advice.

Understanding canine body language can greatly increase the chances of avoiding an attack

There are so many old wives tales related to dogs and dog behaviour I could fill a book. One day I might. Let’s look at some.

When a dog wags his tail, it means he’s happy.

Well, actually no. In fact it could mean he’s very, very angry.

A dog who yawns a lot is tired.

No again. It could signify a dog is highly anxious, nervous or agitated.

A dog who licks his lips is hungry.

Afraid not. Licking lips is a sign dogs give to show they are anxious or submissive.

So, even with just this small handful of examples we can see how easy it is to misread dog body language. The technical name for it is anthropomorphism, which means attributing human traits on a non human. It’s particularly common with dogs and we all do it. Even us dog trainers who really should know better!

Over the past 15 months, Britain has seen 3 dog attacks lead to the tragic and needless deaths of children. On top of that, we’ve seen other serious attacks reported on a frequent basis which have resulted in life changing injuries for some victims.

So what do we need to do to recognise a potential dog attack, either on us, our children or even by our own dogs on someone else?

Dogs rarely, if ever, attack for ‘no reason’. In the wake of an attack we will often hear terms such as ‘out of the blue’, ‘without warning’ or ‘came for no apparent reason’.

Well let’s establish one thing. Dogs do not think in human terms. Maybe we’d be better looking at it another way. Dogs very often attack for good reason in their minds. The problem is, what a dog views as a good reason to attack someone, we humans can never, ever justify.

Let’s look an example.

Dog A is lying close to his favourite. He’s been playing it with it all morning but now he’s gone to sleep.

Someone walks into the room and dog A wakes with a jump. He looks at the ‘intruder’ who he might never have seen before, pricks his ears up and moves closer to his toy. He wants to protect what he thinks is his property and he gives a ‘warning’ to the intruder that he’s staking his claim to his toy by putting his body between them and it.

The stranger, innocently bends down to stroke the dog and as quick as a flash receives a bite on the hand for their trouble.

10 Top Tips for Avoiding Dog Attack

1) Never, ever approach a dog unless its owner has said it’s ok to do so.

2) Be very wary of dogs near toys. Owners should always teach their dogs not to be protective or defensive over toys but it’s far better to always assume a dog will try and protect its toys or food. Put simply, don’t ever take the risk.

3) Be extra vigilant of dogs who have been woken up suddenly. Let sleeping dogs lie is sage advice.

4) Be aware of a dog’s potential to be defensive or territorial in their own home. It’s always a good idea to let strangers meet the dog outside if possible. Some dogs can be very territorial and approaching a dog who might see you as a threat to territory can sometimes lead to problems.

5) When approaching a dog, any dog, never bare down on them. Body language is something dogs are more attuned to than even us humans. Dogs can react badly to being stared at, leaned in on or if they see a hand coming down from above their head. Be aware of what life looks like when you are a dog who is constantly looking upwards at the world around them. Try and get down on their level with your body in a side on (non threatening position)

6) Never, ever, under any circumstances allow young children and dogs (of any type) to play alone together. Dogs and children are a great combination when properly supervised. Dogs and children unattended is a potential recipe for disaster. Take it from a dog trainer who has two dogs who are professionally disciplined. Even I, with fantastically well trained dogs would NEVER leave them unattended with children. The risks are too high. It is not possible to ever know for sure how dogs behave when we’re not there. Add to that the unpredictable element of an unsupervised child and it’s easy to see why accidents and even fatalities can occur.

7) As a dog owner, accept and respect other people’s right not to have your dog jump up them. Many people are fearful of dogs and phrases such as ‘He’s only playing, he won’t hurt you’ are meaningless and rude. Be aware, your dog only needs to be seen as a threat to someone for you to be in breach of the Dangerous Dogs Act. Yes, that is correct. Even if your Yorkshire Terrier jumps up a stranger who finds it a fearful experience, you could lose your dog. Respect non dog owners, they do not and should not ever have to be inconvenienced or made to feel uncomfortable because of something your dog does.

Dog owners must always ask themselves this question: Can I control my dog at any time either by physical restraint or with my voice? If you can’t honestly answer yes to either question you have a problem. Should your dog attack someone, it’s your fault. Should your dog run off and cause an accident, it’s your fault. Should your dog run off and be fatally injured, it’s your fault. Failing to be able to control your dog is nothing to be embarrassed about so seek help from an experienced dog trainer or behaviourist today. Do it today and don’t wait until an accident happens. Your dog is your responsibility and you should be able to control it in any or every possible circumstance.

9) Spend some time and effort learning about dog body language. Being able to recognise the tell tale signs of an upset, unhappy, agitated, aggressive, nervous, territorial or possessive dog are one the main contributing factors to avoiding dog attacks. So many owners believe they know what they need to know about canine behaviour and body language but in reality they are very often wide of the mark. Dogs, whilst fitting in and contributing hugely to the modern family unit are not human, do not think like humans and do not have a human value system that tells them it is NOT OK to attack a stranger for looking at their favourite toy. Be aware of how your dog thinks. You might be very, very surprised at what you find!

10) If you are a dog owner, you should learn and understand your obligations and responsibilities to your dog and to society according to the law. Dog ownership is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

By following these simple tips we can all work together to wipe out dog attacks without wiping out dogs.