Dogs generally have very good instincts, so Sacramento dog bite attorneys are frequently asked why it is that harmless children so frequently become the victims of savage attacks. Surely the dogs know that the vast majority of children mean them no harm, so what is that triggers the attacks?
Recent studies have revealed a number of reasons why dogs end up attacking kids. Part of it is to do with the child’s relatively small stature, and partly due to their behavior, which unintentionally triggers an attack. Research shows that:
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Though children are smaller, their motions often appear faster and more erratic than adults do. This can trigger a dog’s natural instincts to attack smaller prey.
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Children are excitable, and can exhibit either excess energy or fear. In some cases, children are injured because the dog gets over-excited and might actually just be trying to play with the smaller, more vulnerable child.
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An excited child can also trigger aggressive instincts within the animal, leading to a sudden, violent attack.
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Children usually display frustration and anger more visibly than adults. Dogs sense this and respond with almost mirror images of anger and frustration.
Other reasons a dog may suddenly attack include:
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If they think their food or water is being taken away, dogs can become suddenly and violently aggressive.
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What the dog perceives as threatening body language—children often look directly into a dog’s eyes, and dogs are known to see this as highly threatening when done by a stranger.
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Territorial protection—if a strange dog sees a child moving into its space, they may react to protect what they see as their rightful territory.
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If a dog is sick or injured, they feel especially vulnerable, as well as irritable. An unsuspected and unwarranted attack often happens under these circumstances.
What Children Should And Shouldn't Do Around Dogs
Children can’t be taught to not be children, nor should they be! However, Sacramento dog bite lawyers say that there are definitely things children should and shouldn’t do around dogs. Parents and guardians can certainly instill these things in their children and possibly save them from the trauma and pain of a dog attack.
Some of these things include:
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Teach a child to stay as calm as possible when they meet any dog. If the child does become fearful or stressed, remove them from the dog’s presence before any accident can occur.
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Children should be told to never, ever try to scare off a dog by throwing sticks, stones or any other objects at the animal. Dogs with an aggressive nature will only view this as an invitation to engage, and the results can be catastrophic.
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Teach the kids not to hit a dog with sticks or anything else, even if the dog appears ready to attack. This is difficult to teach, but it’s vital that the child appears calm and disinterested, even boring to the dog. Tell them to turn their back and fold their arms. This will save them from getting bitten on the hands, and if they appear bored, the dog will very likely become bored as well. Practice this at home in role-play until the child knows exactly what to do.
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Children should be taught to never approach any dog, even one on a leash, without first seeking permission from the dog’s owner/handler.
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No matter how small or friendly a dog appears, kids should be taught never to approach strange dogs. Their friendly, enthusiastic approach can and often is misconstrued by the dog as aggressive behavior.
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Teach children how to pet the dogs. Before touching the animal, tuck their fingers into a loose fist and let the dog smell their hand first. Then, bring the hand up from under the dog’s head. Dogs view hands coming down on them from above the head as potentially dangerous.
More than 4.7 million Americans were bitten by dogs last year, and more than half of these were children. California has a very high rate of child dog bites, in spite of strict laws that hold dog owner’s civilly liable for injuries caused to victims.
If your child has been bitten by a dog, get them medical help immediately. Also, try to ensure that you know exactly which dog it was that bit your child, because you’ll need to be able to identify the animal to hold the owner responsible.
Once your child has been seen to by a medical provider, contact a Sacramento dog bite lawyer. The consultation is completely free, and a good dog bite attorney will explain to you how to go about recovering your child’s medical expenses, as well as getting compensation for their pain and suffering, their emotional or psychological trauma and, if necessary, the cost of plastic surgery.
If someone else’s dog has attacked and injured your child, make sure the dog owner is held liable, and that your child receives the resources he or she will need to make a complete recovery. By taking action, you may also be saving someone else’s child from a similar fate.
