As pet owners, there is much that we can do to reduce the risks that our pet will bite someone. A dog that bites can not only find itself on the wrong side of the law, but it can also put it's owner in financial trouble. Many homeowner's insurance companies charge more for households that contain a dog that bites. A dog that bites can also cost money in insurance claims.

**According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2001 the property/casualty insurance industry paid out $310 million in liability claims. This number does not include uninsured losses or other medical costs that are not part of a liability claim.**

While it is impossible to completely "bite proof" your pet, there are guidelines you can follow that will decrease the risk of your dog biting someone.

• Spay or neuter your dog. This important procedure is a good idea for many reasons. It decreases your dog's desire to roam and fight; it makes your dog much less likely to bite someone; and it offers many health benefits such as decreased cancer risks.

• Socialize your puppy or dog. Safely exposing your dog to different people, animals, and environments will help him become better adjusted and less likely to bite out of fear.

• Train your dog. Enroll your dog in a home obedience course and encourage the entire family to participate. This will not only help establish your role as the "top dog" but will also teach your dog how to perform a few simple control behaviors. These can be used to counter non-productive behaviors such jumping, barking, and chasing. After all, a dog can't "lie down" and chase the mailman at the same time.

• Give your dog a safe haven away from young children. If you have toddlers, or if you have guests who have small children, consider providing your dog with someplace that he can go and the child can't follow. This can often be achieved with a baby gate that your pet can jump over, but that the child can't climb.

• Don't tie your dog out or isolate him for extended periods of time. Dogs who spend a great deal of time alone or on a chain are often hyper and testy, and could become dangerous. A child that wanders into the area of a chained or isolated dog could easily be knocked down or bitten. Remember, a chained dog is three times more likely to bite than one that isn't.

• Don't teach your dog inappropriate behavior, even for fun. Some people think it's fun to tease a dog by pretending to hurt another family member, but a dog can't always tell the different between play and real-life situations. A dog that you've trained to defend against someone hurting you may just as easily try to defend you from someone who is just playing.

• Call a pet behavior counselor immediately if your dog begins to show signs of dangerous behavior. Dangerous behavior can include resource guarding, where your dog growls at someone who gets near his food dish or toys. Resource guarding usually escalates instead of diminishing, so get help immediately. Be cautious - dangerous behavior towards other animals usually leads to dangerous behavior towards people.

• Be a responsible dog owner. License your pet and provide regular vet care. For everyone's safety, don't let your dog roam freely. If you have a dangerous dog and decide to give it away, consider the person's ability to protect your dog and prevent him from biting. Remember, you may still be held liable for any damage he does even when he belongs to someone else simply because you knew he was dangerous. Also, don't give your dog to someone who wants a dangerous dog. "Mean" dogs often end up in fighting rings where they're forced to live miserable, isolated, abused lives.

• Don't leave your dog unattended with children - especially if the children are not yours. Children are always better behaved around a pet when they know its owners (or their parents) are nearby. Even infants who are not physically capable of provoking a pet should not be left alone with a dog. Dogs can sometimes view infants and children as threats to their territory and space.

• Don't take your dog's breed, size, or personality for granted. Any dog is capable of biting someone under the right circumstances. For example, a dog that has never bitten anyone before, but who has a fear of hats, may try to attack anyone that it sees wearing a hat. Also, any dog is capable of inflicting severe injury to a person it bites. In 2000, a 6-week old infant was mauled to death by the family's Pomeranian (a dog which weights, on average, about 4 pounds).

  ** 77% of biting dogs belong to the victim's family or friend. **

Resources

 Facts & Stats about Dog Bites

<www.dogexpert.com/HomePage/DogBiteStatistics.html>

Dog Bite Prevention

<www.dogscouts.com/biteprevention.shtml>

Dog Bite Law - Dog Bite Statistics

<www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html>

Humane Society of the United States - Avoiding Dog Bites

<http://www.hsus.org/ace/11764>