Children often get excited when they see dogs. Unfortunately, not all dogs share the same sentiments when they meet new people. Before you allow your child to get near a dog, observe the dog’s behavior. Is it exhibiting signs of aggression? Understanding these signs can help in protecting your child from unexpected dog bites.
Common signs of aggression in dogs
Dogs can develop personalities that influence their social behavior. While most dogs easily adjust to a new environment, others tend to tense up and exhibit aggression towards humans.
When dogs feel threatened or scared, they often display warning signs as a form of self-defense. Crossing their boundaries can lead to potential bite incidents. You and your child may better avoid this by learning to recognize these behavioral red flags in dogs:
- Stiffness: Dogs tense their body when they sense a threat to their safety or territory.
- Growling: Dogs emit low rumbling sounds to signal their threatened status.
- Bared teeth: Dogs show their teeth as a preparation for biting.
- Snapping: Dogs snap their mouth at the threat to signal aggression.
- Lunging: Dogs lunge when the threat exhibits taunting actions.
If a dog behaves aggressively, remaining calm is a must to prevent agitating them further.
What can you do to protect your child from unexpected dog bites?
As soon as you see signs of aggressive behavior from a dog, it would be best to remove your child from the dog’s presence. Then, educate your child about the difference between safe and unsafe interactions with dogs so they know what to avoid in the future. Additionally, discuss the dog’s behavior with its owner. Doing so can help them take preventive actions for reducing aggression.
Unfortunately, a dog may still bite even without exhibiting aggressive behaviors. If your child is bitten, consider seeking legal counsel from a personal injury attorney to help you navigate the legal process of dog bites.