I know, I know...I just got this thing up and going here. I discovered that what I want to do cannot be sensibly accomplished in blog format, so...website it is!
New dog Bite Journal Site
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A running count of reported dog bite incidences
April
Date: 04/17/10
Location: Dickson City, PA
Breed: Rottweiler
Incident: Dog bites owner
Sources: The Times Tribune
Date: 04/16/10
Location: Wilmington, NC
Breed: Pit Bull ("appeared to be")
Incident: Dog jumps fence, bites 13 year old boy's leg.
Sources: StarNews, WWAY, Davis Law Group
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Breed: Pit Bull mix
Incident: Non resident dog at large attacks 16 year old girl
waiting at a bus stop.
Sources: Toledo Blade, ABC 13
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Macon, GA
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Man bitten six times by a pack of loose dogs as he was walking.
Sources: Macon.com
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Macon, GA
Breed: not mentioned
Incident: 7 year old girl bitten in leg while walking with mother
by loose dog.
Sources: Macon.com
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Newark, DE
Breed: German Shepherd
Incident: Dog walked on leash bites a UD student's arm.
Sources: 1150AM WDEL Delaware Police News
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Newark, DE
Breed: Unknown ("small white dog")
Incident: Dog at large bit a jogger's leg.
Sources: 1150AM WDEL Delaware Police News
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Sparks, NV
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog bites 13 year old girl's arm after being released
from his yard by a neighbor's child.
Sources: Mason Valley News, Topic Local, Kane Law Group
Date: 04/12/10
Location: Portland, OR
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: Police officer bitten by resident dog while
inevestigating suspicious activity.
Sources: KGW.com
Date: 04/11/10
Location: Waterford Township, MI
Breed: Pit Bull mix
Incident: A pit bull mix bit a 5 year old boy who came into
the owner's gated yard unannounced. The dog had
previously bitten someone just a week before.
Sources: ClickOn Detroit, WXYZ, Oakland Press
Date: 04/11/10
Location: Pataskala, OH
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: 4 year old boy bitten; circumstances not mentioned.
Sources: WHIZ News
Date: 04/10/10
Location: Crafton, PA
Breed: Saint Bernard (possible)
Incident: Dog at large enters boy's yard and bites 5 year old's
face.
Sources: Pittsburgh CW, Post-Gazette
Date: 04/09/10
Location: Blackfoot, ID
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog gets on school grounds, attempts to play with and
chase children, is reportedly antagonized by said
children, and bites. 2 children and a teacher's aid
recieved bites. Nine other children received scratches
and abrasions.
Sources: KIDK News, Idaho State Journal, KPVI News 6,
LocalNews8 (first post), LocalNews8 (second post)
Date: 04/09/10
Location: LaVista, NE
Breed: American Bull Dog, and Pit Bull.
Incident: Two dogs escaped their yard, and bit two children in
two seperate attacks.
Sources: WOWT, Action 3 News
Date: 04/08/10 (posted)
Location: Brainerd, TN
Breed: Akita
Incident: Owner was walking his two dogs on lead when a woman
approached and attempted to pet one of them. The dog
bit her arm.
Sources: Chattanooga.com Date: 04/08/10
Location: Safford, AZ
Breed: Pit Bull Terrier
Incident: Dog on long chain jumps over low fence, bites 6 year
old boy's face. Boy was playing unnatended in the alley
behind the dog's yard.
Sources: Eastern Arizona Courrier
Date: 04/07/10
Location: Glens Falls, NY
Breed: Mixed breed
Incident: The family dog become upset for an unknown reason, and
bit the foot of of a 3 month old baby being held by
it's mother, and also bit a toddler.
Sources: PostStar
Date: 04/07/10
Location: Springfield, IL
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog at large bites both hands of a man walking down the
street.
Soruces: The State Journal
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: German Shepherd mix
Incident: Dog jumped fence, and chased 6 year old boy on bike,
and bit his ankle.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: Labrador mix
Incident: 17 year old boy walks through a neighbor's yard and is
bitten on his calf by resident dog.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: All that is said is that the dog bit it's owner.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: All that is mentioned is that the dog bit it's owner. This
is a seperate incidence than the above involving a
different dog.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: English Bulldog
Incident: A bulldog jumped into a fight between two humans,
biting one of them.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/04/10
Location: Huron, OH
Breed: Cane Corso mastiff
Incident: Police officer bitten on the leg by dog. Circumstances
not discussed.
Sources: Sandusky Register
Date: 04/01/10
Location: West Fargo, ND
Breed: Labrador Retriever (Black)
Incident: Woman was walking her two dogs on leash when the lab
lunged, and bit a passing jogger on his knee.
Sources: KFGO, West Fargo Pioneer
Date: 04/01/10March
Date: 03/31/10
Location: Concord, CA
Breed: Labrador Retriever (Yellow)
Incident: Leashed dog walked by owner bites 10 year old girl's
leg as she is riding a bicycle
Sources: Mercury News, The Reeves Law Group
Date: 03/31/10
Location: Poquoson,
Breed: Golden Retriever
Incident: Dog alledgedly bites part of 3 year old boy's ear off.
Sources: WVEC, WTKR
Analysis:
Date: 03/31/10
Location: Warren County, MS
Breed: Black Mouth Cur
Incident: Family dog mauls 2 year old boy while family was
playing in their yard.
Sources: The Vicksburg Post, WLBT, Topix Local News,
Date: 03/29/10
Location: Carlisle, PA
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Two woman were engaged in a physical altercation. When
a teenage girl "jumped in", the family dog "was getting
worked up", and "eventually jumped into the mix" biting
the teenager's arm.
Sources: The Sentinal, WGAL,
Analysis:
Date: 03/28/10
Location: Plattsmouth, NE
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Family dog alledgedly bit 10 year old boy's face
while the child is laying on the sofa. Victim's father
says that the dog had been behaving strangely in the
weeks prior to the attack.
Sources: WOWT (first post), WOWT (second post),
The Journal (first post), The Journal (second post)
Date: 03/25/10
Location: Summit County, OH
Breed: Boxer mix/ Pit Bull mix/ Pit Bull (has been reported as
several different breeds)
Incident: Dog bit his owner's father, and then bit a deputy who
was called to the scene. Witnesses describe the dog's
behavior that day leading up to the incident as
unusual.
Sources: FOX 8 News, Canton Rep., WKYC News, Ohio.com,
The Suburbanite, Cleveland.com
Date: 03/23/10
Location: Washington D.C.
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: 12 year old girl attacked by dog. Circumstances not
discussed.
Sources: The Washington Post
Location: West Fargo, ND
Breed: Boxer/Bulldog mix (possible)
Incident: Dog at large bit a female jogger.
Sources: WDAY News 6, West Fargo Pioneer
Date: 04/01/10
Location: Long Beach, CA
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog at large injured man and his dog.
Sources: Press-Telegram, LBPOST, KCAL, and 80 other reports.
Date: 04/17/10
Location: Dickson City, PA
Breed: Rottweiler
Incident: Dog bites owner
Sources: The Times Tribune
Date: 04/16/10
Location: Wilmington, NC
Breed: Pit Bull ("appeared to be")
Incident: Dog jumps fence, bites 13 year old boy's leg.
Sources: StarNews, WWAY, Davis Law Group
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Breed: Pit Bull mix
Incident: Non resident dog at large attacks 16 year old girl
waiting at a bus stop.
Sources: Toledo Blade, ABC 13
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Macon, GA
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Man bitten six times by a pack of loose dogs as he was walking.
Sources: Macon.com
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Macon, GA
Breed: not mentioned
Incident: 7 year old girl bitten in leg while walking with mother
by loose dog.
Sources: Macon.com
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Newark, DE
Breed: German Shepherd
Incident: Dog walked on leash bites a UD student's arm.
Sources: 1150AM WDEL Delaware Police News
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Newark, DE
Breed: Unknown ("small white dog")
Incident: Dog at large bit a jogger's leg.
Sources: 1150AM WDEL Delaware Police News
Date: 04/15/10
Location: Sparks, NV
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog bites 13 year old girl's arm after being released
from his yard by a neighbor's child.
Sources: Mason Valley News, Topic Local, Kane Law Group
Date: 04/12/10
Location: Portland, OR
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: Police officer bitten by resident dog while
inevestigating suspicious activity.
Sources: KGW.com
Date: 04/11/10
Location: Waterford Township, MI
Breed: Pit Bull mix
Incident: A pit bull mix bit a 5 year old boy who came into
the owner's gated yard unannounced. The dog had
previously bitten someone just a week before.
Sources: ClickOn Detroit, WXYZ, Oakland Press
Date: 04/11/10
Location: Pataskala, OH
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: 4 year old boy bitten; circumstances not mentioned.
Sources: WHIZ News
Date: 04/10/10
Location: Crafton, PA
Breed: Saint Bernard (possible)
Incident: Dog at large enters boy's yard and bites 5 year old's
face.
Sources: Pittsburgh CW, Post-Gazette
Date: 04/09/10
Location: Blackfoot, ID
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog gets on school grounds, attempts to play with and
chase children, is reportedly antagonized by said
children, and bites. 2 children and a teacher's aid
recieved bites. Nine other children received scratches
and abrasions.
Sources: KIDK News, Idaho State Journal, KPVI News 6,
LocalNews8 (first post), LocalNews8 (second post)
Date: 04/09/10
Location: LaVista, NE
Breed: American Bull Dog, and Pit Bull.
Incident: Two dogs escaped their yard, and bit two children in
two seperate attacks.
Sources: WOWT, Action 3 News
Date: 04/08/10 (posted)
Location: Brainerd, TN
Breed: Akita
Incident: Owner was walking his two dogs on lead when a woman
approached and attempted to pet one of them. The dog
bit her arm.
Sources: Chattanooga.com Date: 04/08/10
Location: Safford, AZ
Breed: Pit Bull Terrier
Incident: Dog on long chain jumps over low fence, bites 6 year
old boy's face. Boy was playing unnatended in the alley
behind the dog's yard.
Sources: Eastern Arizona Courrier
Date: 04/07/10
Location: Glens Falls, NY
Breed: Mixed breed
Incident: The family dog become upset for an unknown reason, and
bit the foot of of a 3 month old baby being held by
it's mother, and also bit a toddler.
Sources: PostStar
Date: 04/07/10
Location: Springfield, IL
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog at large bites both hands of a man walking down the
street.
Soruces: The State Journal
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: German Shepherd mix
Incident: Dog jumped fence, and chased 6 year old boy on bike,
and bit his ankle.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: Labrador mix
Incident: 17 year old boy walks through a neighbor's yard and is
bitten on his calf by resident dog.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: All that is said is that the dog bit it's owner.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: All that is mentioned is that the dog bit it's owner. This
is a seperate incidence than the above involving a
different dog.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/05/10 (posted)
Location: Taylor County, FL
Breed: English Bulldog
Incident: A bulldog jumped into a fight between two humans,
biting one of them.
Sources: WCTV
Date: 04/04/10
Location: Huron, OH
Breed: Cane Corso mastiff
Incident: Police officer bitten on the leg by dog. Circumstances
not discussed.
Sources: Sandusky Register
Date: 04/01/10
Location: West Fargo, ND
Breed: Labrador Retriever (Black)
Incident: Woman was walking her two dogs on leash when the lab
lunged, and bit a passing jogger on his knee.
Sources: KFGO, West Fargo Pioneer
Date: 04/01/10March
Date: 03/31/10
Location: Concord, CA
Breed: Labrador Retriever (Yellow)
Incident: Leashed dog walked by owner bites 10 year old girl's
leg as she is riding a bicycle
Sources: Mercury News, The Reeves Law Group
Date: 03/31/10
Location: Poquoson,
Breed: Golden Retriever
Incident: Dog alledgedly bites part of 3 year old boy's ear off.
Sources: WVEC, WTKR
Analysis:
Date: 03/31/10
Location: Warren County, MS
Breed: Black Mouth Cur
Incident: Family dog mauls 2 year old boy while family was
playing in their yard.
Sources: The Vicksburg Post, WLBT, Topix Local News,
Date: 03/29/10
Location: Carlisle, PA
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Two woman were engaged in a physical altercation. When
a teenage girl "jumped in", the family dog "was getting
worked up", and "eventually jumped into the mix" biting
the teenager's arm.
Sources: The Sentinal, WGAL,
Analysis:
Date: 03/28/10
Location: Plattsmouth, NE
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Family dog alledgedly bit 10 year old boy's face
while the child is laying on the sofa. Victim's father
says that the dog had been behaving strangely in the
weeks prior to the attack.
Sources: WOWT (first post), WOWT (second post),
The Journal (first post), The Journal (second post)
Date: 03/25/10
Location: Summit County, OH
Breed: Boxer mix/ Pit Bull mix/ Pit Bull (has been reported as
several different breeds)
Incident: Dog bit his owner's father, and then bit a deputy who
was called to the scene. Witnesses describe the dog's
behavior that day leading up to the incident as
unusual.
Sources: FOX 8 News, Canton Rep., WKYC News, Ohio.com,
The Suburbanite, Cleveland.com
Date: 03/23/10
Location: Washington D.C.
Breed: Not mentioned
Incident: 12 year old girl attacked by dog. Circumstances not
discussed.
Sources: The Washington Post
Location: West Fargo, ND
Breed: Boxer/Bulldog mix (possible)
Incident: Dog at large bit a female jogger.
Sources: WDAY News 6, West Fargo Pioneer
Date: 04/01/10
Location: Long Beach, CA
Breed: Pit Bull
Incident: Dog at large injured man and his dog.
Sources: Press-Telegram, LBPOST, KCAL, and 80 other reports.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Dog bites part of child's ear off
Incident Occured: 03/31/10
Location: Poquoson, VA
Breed Alleged: Golden Retriever
Sources:
http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-dog-ear-bite,0,4558504.story
http://www.wvec.com/news/local/Police-Dog-bites-off-part-of-3-year-olds-ear-89719387.html
http://www.newyorkinjurynews.com/2010/04/07/Virginia-dog-bite-injury-Child-lost-ear-in-Poquoson-dog-attack_201004073133.html
http://www.topix.com/city/poquoson-va/2010/04/dog-bites-part-of-childs-ear-off-in-poquoson
This is a story where none of those involved (except the child) know what actually happened. There is no strong evidence that the injury was even caused by the dog.
The 3 year old was apparently with his father visiting another family's back yard across the street from the grandmother's home. One report states that the child was playing with other children and that they were "under the supervision of a few adults". Two other stories make no mention of other children.
Two of the reports state that the child wandered behind a shed, where the attack allegedly occurred with no witnesses. The shed backs up to a fence that separates the two yards, and he was between the fence and the shed.The other report does not mention the shed at all.
According to the grandmother, “All of a sudden my grandson started screaming and yelling and my son looked up and the dog had come over the thing and attacked him and took his ear, bit him on his arm, his shoulder, and bit his ear off. I mean, all this, all this is gone… He wasn't even outside 10 minutes and my son came across the street screaming and crying and yelling mama, mama help me, a dog had bitten my grandson’s ear off.”
She describes the scene as if she had witnessed it, but she was inside her house across the street when the incident occurred. Neither she, nor anyone else present knows whether or not the dog actually bit the child at all, let alone the details of how the alleged attack took place, as no one was in a position to actually witness the "attack."
A family member of the dog's owner who was near the scene when it occurred (and who was going to school for nursing) went to see if she could assist the toddler. She posted on the Internet explaining her family's side of the story.
She states that the child had no cuts, punctures or scratches on his arms or shoulders...refuting the claim of the grandmother that the dog also bit him in these places. The only way for any of us to know for sure, is to see medical records.
She claims that there were no adults supervising the child at the time of the alleged attack. Since both parties (family of the victim and family of the accused dog) have stakes in this fight, there is really no way for an outsider to know for sure who is telling the whole truth, and who is not. It behooves the family of the child to claim that their was supervision, just as it behooves the family of the dog to claim that there was not.
She also claims that the dog has never before attempted to jump the fence. This can indicate that the dog did not jump over the fence to bite the child, but then again...there's always a first time for everything. Secondarily, the fence was reported to be only three feet high. The dog would not have to jump over the fence to reach the child, he would only have to jump up on the fence, which at three feet, is just about the right level to reach a three year old's head.
One news report states that "witnesses heard a dog bark and the child cry out just before the child emerged from behind the shed bleeding from the left side of his head." The nurse in training claims that the dog could not have barked, as it was wearing a shock collar, and would have been shocked if it did.
Assuming the correct training was used with the shock collar, it is quite possible the dog would have developed an aversion to barking, but this does not mean that in a state of high arousal or fear, that it definitely did not bark.
She says that her aunt (the dog's owner) and her aunt's landlord, were outside on the porch at the time of the incident and were "fully aware of where her dog was." This statement seems airtight...except being aware of where the dog is, and actually supervising the dog at all times are two different things. Since she did not say, we cannot assume she meant that the dog was right there next to them in plain view the entire time.
She states: "My aunt has babysat a lot of the neighborhood kids. The golden retriever apparently responsible for the attack is a seeing eye dog for my half blind cousin. Babies have been around this dog and this dog is more scared of the babies than the babies being scared of the dog." If this dog is truly a trained and certified seeing eye dog, then it had to go through rigorous training and socialization prior to living with the family. It is unlikely that a dog suited for this job would be moved to attack a child unless under the most heinous of provocation.
As for the dog having lots of experience around babies and children...that only proves that the dog hasn't attacked anyone up till this point. It is likely that the dog's socialization with children have made it trustworthy around them. However, without meeting the dog, and seeing exactly how it behaves in the presence of children, and fully understanding minute nuances in canine behaviour and body language...there is no way to know for sure how comfortable the dog is around kids.
In fact, in part of her statement she says "...this dog is more scared of babies than the babies being scared of the dog." Again, we don't know exactly what she means by this. She may be inferring that the dog is extremely tolerant of the children, and allows them to do what they want to him with good humour and patience. But, if she means that the dog displays fearful behaviour around children, such as trying to get away from them and avoid them, it's a whole different ball game.
If a dog behaves like this around children, and the owners do not allow the dog to get away and be left in peace, the dog may eventually lose his patience and bite.
Assuming the dog did, in fact, bite the child (which may or may not have occurred, we will never know...) let's examine what may have triggered it.
Even the most temperamentally sound dog has a limit to what he can withstand before he reacts. We do not know what signs this dog may or may not have displayed in the days/weeks/months leading up to this attack. According to one witness's statement, the dog might be somewhat fearful of children. If this were the case though, the dog would have most likely avoided the child all together.
No one witnessed the events that immediately preceded the alleged bite, nor the bite itself. There is every possibility that the child may have been behaving in some way that was frightening, or threatening to the dog. The child may have reached through the fence, and grabbed the dog, possibly painfully, which could have resulted in a startle reflex in the dog, causing the bite.
It's also possible that the dog could have been frequently teased by the local children through the fence. This is a common occurrence in dog attack cases. An otherwise all around balanced dog may be constantly teased and tormented by people on the other side of a fence, causing him to associate those people with fear, pain, and anger...which is likely to lead to a bite when one of those tormentors comes within reach.
Barrier aggression is also a posible explanation. An otherwise well behaved and social dog may develop this issue. Barrier agression is caused by the constant frustration a dog feels when there is something on the other side of a barrier that it cannot interact with. If confronted with this object away from barriers, the dog will bahave in his normally friendly manner. However, if the barrier is a fence, the object of excitement a child, and the child puts a hand through at the height of this dog's excitement, a bite may occur.
The dog's defender makes a point to mention that the yard in which the incident occurred is littered by metal, suggesting that it is a possibility that the child was injured by yard trash as opposed to a dog bite.
She says that when the dog was examined by the police and Animal Control that "There was no blood found inside his mouth, on his fur or on the fence where the attack supposedly happened." If this is true, then this is pretty telling. Injuries to the face and head tend to bleed a lot. While it is possible that the dog could have bitten without being bled on, due to the propable circumstances, it is unlikely that the fence would be unmarked.
There is also apparently bad blood between the owners of the dog and the family of the child. The dog's family believes that the child's family are "picking on" them, possibly because of the father and child being evicted from the trailer park. The dog defender claims that the child's grandmother has been spreading rumors that the dog has attacked four other people.
Neighbor disputes over pets are also very common. Frequently, the dispute has nothing at all to do with pets, but petty and immature people (of which the world is full) will use any excuse to cause problems. Pets are a favored target. Rumors are spread, sometimes false police reports and Animal Control calls are made, targeted pets are blamed for nearly anything that goes wrong in the area. Some people go so far as to let dogs out of their yards so that they can call the cops about a "dangerous dog at large". There have even been cases where someone has let a dog out of a yard, coaxed it into their own yard, and then shot it dead. They later report that the dog was "running loose" and that it "charged me" and that they "feared for my life".
It is an unfortunate fact of life that people lie. They don't always lie, but when hearing about any event that one did not personally witness, one has to take everything they hear with a grain of salt. One must consider what might motivate a person to make the claims that they do, and look at every topic from as many different viewpoints as possible.
In conclusion, due to the circumstances in this particular case, I feel it is unlikely that the child's injury was caused by this dog. I think it more likely that the injury was a simple accident involving something in the yard or behind the shed. However, that doesn't mean that it couldn't have been caused by the dog, and I can see what could have triggered a possible bite.
If the dog did bite, I beleive that this (or something similar) is the most likely scenario:
Dog sees child on other side of fence, and approaches to say "hello". Child, not knowing any better, grabs a fistful of dog's skin through the fence and pulls. This startles and hurts the dog, who, without thinking, reacts immediately with a yelp and a bite. He is not intending to harm the child, all he knows is that he hurts, and he is frightened, and he wants it to stop. Sort of like if you stopped in the street to say 'hi" to a stranger, and that stranger suddenly grabs your ear and twists it painfully. Your first reaction would be reflexive, and would probably be a kick, or a punch, or a push...whatever could get him off of you as quickly as possible. You probably wouldn't stand their passively, in pain and shock, and say "Excuse me, sir...would you mind terribly letting go of my ear? I would really appreciate it." We can't expect an animal to react any differently than we ourselves would.
In this case, there are two separate issues to be avoided in the future:
1) Having your dog falsely accused of doggy crimes:
Keep your head down. Don't get involved with neighborhood gossip or drama. Mind your own business and don't complain about or to your neighbors. Be nice. If your neighbors like you, they are very unlikely to start problems about your pets.
2) A child possibly being bitten by a dog:
Dog Owners: Make sure your fenced in yard is secure, and that the fence is tall enough not only to keep your dog in, but to keep outsiders out. Wood fencing is best, as kids can't see in to harass a dog, and dogs can't see out; which goes a long way in preventing barrier aggression. It also prevents parts of people or things from being bitten through a fence.
Do not leave your dogs in your yard without supervision. Your dog could become the target for teasing and abuse by passersby and neighbors if you are not there to put a stop to it. Someone may enter your yard without your knowledge or permission, resulting in a possible bite. The dog could escape (or be released) and get into trouble.
Parents: Supervise your young children AT ALL TIMES like you should be doing. Don't let them wander off and out of your sight. So many tragedies could easily be avoided if parents would just watch their toddlers. Whether this particular child was bitten by a dog, or injured by yard trash...either could have been avoided with proper supervision.
Location: Poquoson, VA
Breed Alleged: Golden Retriever
Sources:
http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-dog-ear-bite,0,4558504.story
http://www.wvec.com/news/local/Police-Dog-bites-off-part-of-3-year-olds-ear-89719387.html
http://www.newyorkinjurynews.com/2010/04/07/Virginia-dog-bite-injury-Child-lost-ear-in-Poquoson-dog-attack_201004073133.html
http://www.topix.com/city/poquoson-va/2010/04/dog-bites-part-of-childs-ear-off-in-poquoson
This is a story where none of those involved (except the child) know what actually happened. There is no strong evidence that the injury was even caused by the dog.
The 3 year old was apparently with his father visiting another family's back yard across the street from the grandmother's home. One report states that the child was playing with other children and that they were "under the supervision of a few adults". Two other stories make no mention of other children.
Two of the reports state that the child wandered behind a shed, where the attack allegedly occurred with no witnesses. The shed backs up to a fence that separates the two yards, and he was between the fence and the shed.The other report does not mention the shed at all.
According to the grandmother, “All of a sudden my grandson started screaming and yelling and my son looked up and the dog had come over the thing and attacked him and took his ear, bit him on his arm, his shoulder, and bit his ear off. I mean, all this, all this is gone… He wasn't even outside 10 minutes and my son came across the street screaming and crying and yelling mama, mama help me, a dog had bitten my grandson’s ear off.”
She describes the scene as if she had witnessed it, but she was inside her house across the street when the incident occurred. Neither she, nor anyone else present knows whether or not the dog actually bit the child at all, let alone the details of how the alleged attack took place, as no one was in a position to actually witness the "attack."
A family member of the dog's owner who was near the scene when it occurred (and who was going to school for nursing) went to see if she could assist the toddler. She posted on the Internet explaining her family's side of the story.
She states that the child had no cuts, punctures or scratches on his arms or shoulders...refuting the claim of the grandmother that the dog also bit him in these places. The only way for any of us to know for sure, is to see medical records.
She claims that there were no adults supervising the child at the time of the alleged attack. Since both parties (family of the victim and family of the accused dog) have stakes in this fight, there is really no way for an outsider to know for sure who is telling the whole truth, and who is not. It behooves the family of the child to claim that their was supervision, just as it behooves the family of the dog to claim that there was not.
She also claims that the dog has never before attempted to jump the fence. This can indicate that the dog did not jump over the fence to bite the child, but then again...there's always a first time for everything. Secondarily, the fence was reported to be only three feet high. The dog would not have to jump over the fence to reach the child, he would only have to jump up on the fence, which at three feet, is just about the right level to reach a three year old's head.
One news report states that "witnesses heard a dog bark and the child cry out just before the child emerged from behind the shed bleeding from the left side of his head." The nurse in training claims that the dog could not have barked, as it was wearing a shock collar, and would have been shocked if it did.
Assuming the correct training was used with the shock collar, it is quite possible the dog would have developed an aversion to barking, but this does not mean that in a state of high arousal or fear, that it definitely did not bark.
She says that her aunt (the dog's owner) and her aunt's landlord, were outside on the porch at the time of the incident and were "fully aware of where her dog was." This statement seems airtight...except being aware of where the dog is, and actually supervising the dog at all times are two different things. Since she did not say, we cannot assume she meant that the dog was right there next to them in plain view the entire time.
She states: "My aunt has babysat a lot of the neighborhood kids. The golden retriever apparently responsible for the attack is a seeing eye dog for my half blind cousin. Babies have been around this dog and this dog is more scared of the babies than the babies being scared of the dog." If this dog is truly a trained and certified seeing eye dog, then it had to go through rigorous training and socialization prior to living with the family. It is unlikely that a dog suited for this job would be moved to attack a child unless under the most heinous of provocation.
As for the dog having lots of experience around babies and children...that only proves that the dog hasn't attacked anyone up till this point. It is likely that the dog's socialization with children have made it trustworthy around them. However, without meeting the dog, and seeing exactly how it behaves in the presence of children, and fully understanding minute nuances in canine behaviour and body language...there is no way to know for sure how comfortable the dog is around kids.
In fact, in part of her statement she says "...this dog is more scared of babies than the babies being scared of the dog." Again, we don't know exactly what she means by this. She may be inferring that the dog is extremely tolerant of the children, and allows them to do what they want to him with good humour and patience. But, if she means that the dog displays fearful behaviour around children, such as trying to get away from them and avoid them, it's a whole different ball game.
If a dog behaves like this around children, and the owners do not allow the dog to get away and be left in peace, the dog may eventually lose his patience and bite.
Assuming the dog did, in fact, bite the child (which may or may not have occurred, we will never know...) let's examine what may have triggered it.
Even the most temperamentally sound dog has a limit to what he can withstand before he reacts. We do not know what signs this dog may or may not have displayed in the days/weeks/months leading up to this attack. According to one witness's statement, the dog might be somewhat fearful of children. If this were the case though, the dog would have most likely avoided the child all together.
No one witnessed the events that immediately preceded the alleged bite, nor the bite itself. There is every possibility that the child may have been behaving in some way that was frightening, or threatening to the dog. The child may have reached through the fence, and grabbed the dog, possibly painfully, which could have resulted in a startle reflex in the dog, causing the bite.
It's also possible that the dog could have been frequently teased by the local children through the fence. This is a common occurrence in dog attack cases. An otherwise all around balanced dog may be constantly teased and tormented by people on the other side of a fence, causing him to associate those people with fear, pain, and anger...which is likely to lead to a bite when one of those tormentors comes within reach.
Barrier aggression is also a posible explanation. An otherwise well behaved and social dog may develop this issue. Barrier agression is caused by the constant frustration a dog feels when there is something on the other side of a barrier that it cannot interact with. If confronted with this object away from barriers, the dog will bahave in his normally friendly manner. However, if the barrier is a fence, the object of excitement a child, and the child puts a hand through at the height of this dog's excitement, a bite may occur.
The dog's defender makes a point to mention that the yard in which the incident occurred is littered by metal, suggesting that it is a possibility that the child was injured by yard trash as opposed to a dog bite.
She says that when the dog was examined by the police and Animal Control that "There was no blood found inside his mouth, on his fur or on the fence where the attack supposedly happened." If this is true, then this is pretty telling. Injuries to the face and head tend to bleed a lot. While it is possible that the dog could have bitten without being bled on, due to the propable circumstances, it is unlikely that the fence would be unmarked.
There is also apparently bad blood between the owners of the dog and the family of the child. The dog's family believes that the child's family are "picking on" them, possibly because of the father and child being evicted from the trailer park. The dog defender claims that the child's grandmother has been spreading rumors that the dog has attacked four other people.
Neighbor disputes over pets are also very common. Frequently, the dispute has nothing at all to do with pets, but petty and immature people (of which the world is full) will use any excuse to cause problems. Pets are a favored target. Rumors are spread, sometimes false police reports and Animal Control calls are made, targeted pets are blamed for nearly anything that goes wrong in the area. Some people go so far as to let dogs out of their yards so that they can call the cops about a "dangerous dog at large". There have even been cases where someone has let a dog out of a yard, coaxed it into their own yard, and then shot it dead. They later report that the dog was "running loose" and that it "charged me" and that they "feared for my life".
In this particular case, it is entirely possible that the family of the child simply blamed the dog because they don't like the owners.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that people lie. They don't always lie, but when hearing about any event that one did not personally witness, one has to take everything they hear with a grain of salt. One must consider what might motivate a person to make the claims that they do, and look at every topic from as many different viewpoints as possible.
In conclusion, due to the circumstances in this particular case, I feel it is unlikely that the child's injury was caused by this dog. I think it more likely that the injury was a simple accident involving something in the yard or behind the shed. However, that doesn't mean that it couldn't have been caused by the dog, and I can see what could have triggered a possible bite.
If the dog did bite, I beleive that this (or something similar) is the most likely scenario:
Dog sees child on other side of fence, and approaches to say "hello". Child, not knowing any better, grabs a fistful of dog's skin through the fence and pulls. This startles and hurts the dog, who, without thinking, reacts immediately with a yelp and a bite. He is not intending to harm the child, all he knows is that he hurts, and he is frightened, and he wants it to stop. Sort of like if you stopped in the street to say 'hi" to a stranger, and that stranger suddenly grabs your ear and twists it painfully. Your first reaction would be reflexive, and would probably be a kick, or a punch, or a push...whatever could get him off of you as quickly as possible. You probably wouldn't stand their passively, in pain and shock, and say "Excuse me, sir...would you mind terribly letting go of my ear? I would really appreciate it." We can't expect an animal to react any differently than we ourselves would.
In this case, there are two separate issues to be avoided in the future:
1) Having your dog falsely accused of doggy crimes:
Keep your head down. Don't get involved with neighborhood gossip or drama. Mind your own business and don't complain about or to your neighbors. Be nice. If your neighbors like you, they are very unlikely to start problems about your pets.
2) A child possibly being bitten by a dog:
Dog Owners: Make sure your fenced in yard is secure, and that the fence is tall enough not only to keep your dog in, but to keep outsiders out. Wood fencing is best, as kids can't see in to harass a dog, and dogs can't see out; which goes a long way in preventing barrier aggression. It also prevents parts of people or things from being bitten through a fence.
Do not leave your dogs in your yard without supervision. Your dog could become the target for teasing and abuse by passersby and neighbors if you are not there to put a stop to it. Someone may enter your yard without your knowledge or permission, resulting in a possible bite. The dog could escape (or be released) and get into trouble.
Parents: Supervise your young children AT ALL TIMES like you should be doing. Don't let them wander off and out of your sight. So many tragedies could easily be avoided if parents would just watch their toddlers. Whether this particular child was bitten by a dog, or injured by yard trash...either could have been avoided with proper supervision.
Dog attacks and the media
The news is viewed by most as a way to obtain information about what is going on in the world around them. Many Americans listen, read, or watch the news with an uncritical eye.
Unfortunately, the news media is infamous for misinformation and bias in every genre of story.
It seems that the news has become less and less a source of reliable information. More and more it becomes simply another form of sensationalized entertainment.
It's all about the ratings. Fear and violence sell. Human interest stories and other "good" news do not. Educational information also does not sell...unless it's how to employ duct tape and plastic sheeting to protect your family in a chemical or biological attack (which it will not, by the way.)
That's why in most stories on animal attacks we hear in detail the gory damage that was done, dramatic and sensationalized descriptions of the attack itself, and quotes from neighbors and authorities about how horrible it was.
What we rarely (if ever) see, is a news report that ever attempts to even briefly touch on what may have triggered the attack, any correlations being drawn about circumstance, and any suggestions on how to avoid this kind of attack in the future.
Granted, a reporter or journalist is trained to be a reporter or journalist...not an animal behaviourist. However, it is part and parcel with reporting the news that only accurate, relevant information be reported.
Part of being a good reporter is being able to dig up the "dirt". They have the resources to consult veterinarians, trainers, and behaviourists for opinions on a case. They simply choose not to, or choose only to use commentary that makes the story seem more entertaining or frightening.
Reporters also embellish the facts to make them more interesting. A 45 pound lab/pit mix can often magically transform into a 120 pound pit bull, for example.
In video news, editors often remove parts of a witness statement to make it sound like they are saying something entirely different then their intent. Such as, "Dogs are dangerous when they are in the wrong hands." Can become "Dogs are dangerous."
The news media has many opportunities, every day, to actually educate it's viewers/readers. I believe it also has the responsibility to do so. If these stories of dog attacks would even just briefly touch on causation and prevention, instead of just entertaining with sensationalized horror, imagine how many families could be spared the terror of a dog attack, simply by knowing what to watch for and how to find help in prevention.
Unfortunately, the news media is infamous for misinformation and bias in every genre of story.
It seems that the news has become less and less a source of reliable information. More and more it becomes simply another form of sensationalized entertainment.
It's all about the ratings. Fear and violence sell. Human interest stories and other "good" news do not. Educational information also does not sell...unless it's how to employ duct tape and plastic sheeting to protect your family in a chemical or biological attack (which it will not, by the way.)
That's why in most stories on animal attacks we hear in detail the gory damage that was done, dramatic and sensationalized descriptions of the attack itself, and quotes from neighbors and authorities about how horrible it was.
What we rarely (if ever) see, is a news report that ever attempts to even briefly touch on what may have triggered the attack, any correlations being drawn about circumstance, and any suggestions on how to avoid this kind of attack in the future.
Granted, a reporter or journalist is trained to be a reporter or journalist...not an animal behaviourist. However, it is part and parcel with reporting the news that only accurate, relevant information be reported.
Part of being a good reporter is being able to dig up the "dirt". They have the resources to consult veterinarians, trainers, and behaviourists for opinions on a case. They simply choose not to, or choose only to use commentary that makes the story seem more entertaining or frightening.
Reporters also embellish the facts to make them more interesting. A 45 pound lab/pit mix can often magically transform into a 120 pound pit bull, for example.
In video news, editors often remove parts of a witness statement to make it sound like they are saying something entirely different then their intent. Such as, "Dogs are dangerous when they are in the wrong hands." Can become "Dogs are dangerous."
The news media has many opportunities, every day, to actually educate it's viewers/readers. I believe it also has the responsibility to do so. If these stories of dog attacks would even just briefly touch on causation and prevention, instead of just entertaining with sensationalized horror, imagine how many families could be spared the terror of a dog attack, simply by knowing what to watch for and how to find help in prevention.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Why dogs attack
The purpose of this blog is to discuss the circumstances surrounding dog attacks on humans.
The media puts out stories of dog attacks on a daily basis. Most of these stories are poorly researched, extremely biased, missing vast amounts of information, or handing out straight misinformation. Quite frequently, the story will change depending on which media outlets are covering it.
Dog attacks are being reported as if the country were filled with Jekyl and Hyde dogs that are loving family pets one second, and the next... viscious killers.
The fact of the matter is...dogs don't "snap". They don't "turn on you out of the blue".
There are four major factors that can lead to a dog attacking:
1) Abuse, neglect, and isolation:
Many of the dogs described as "family pets" in these stories are anything but. They are chained in the backyard with minimal human interaction for years; locked in basements and garages and closets. Some are physically neglected and/or abused.
Dogs that have been physically or mentally abused can be pushed beyond their threshold and "attack" in self defense. For a dog like this, he may lash out at the one who hits him. He may be so mentaly traumatized by his experiences, that he is incapable of discerning a true threat from a perceived one, and may be frightened when the family toddler falls on top of him or steps on his tail...resulting (in the dog's eyes) in a purely defensive bite.
Socialization is vastly important to a dog's mental well being and ability to act appropriately in different situations and around different people. Dogs that have been isolated from the outside world, and in many cases...their own families, can become mentally unbalanced (just like a person would).
Being isolated in the same spot for their entire lives, many dogs develop serious territorial issues. To a dog like this, a neighborhood child climbing the fence, or coming in through the gate would be considered a threat to the dog's tiny world. Since he has not been socialized with people outside of his home, any stranger is a potential threat. Members of the dogs own family can sometimes be perceived as a threat.
2) Innapropriate or lack of training:
Dogs do not have a moral code. They do not understand such concepts as "right and wrong" or the legal system, nor can they consider the possible abstract consequences of any decisions they may make. The only variables that influence a dog's decisions are "does it feel good right now?" or "does it feel not good right now?"
A dog has to be trained in every aspect of living alongside humans. He has to be taught not to potty in the house, not to jump on people, not to chase moving objects. He has to be taught NOT to bite. He has to be taught that different people and children are good. He has to be taught not to aggresively guard his food and toys and space.
Many dog attacks are the result of allowing a dog to misbehave. A young dog who is allowed to playfully jump and mouth people can become an adult dog with no bite inhibition. This means he is more likely to use his teeth to get his way.
Many family dogs are allowed to develop very poor and potentially dangerous behaviours by owners who either don't realize the potential issues, or who are simply unnaware of how to curb such behaviors.
If the dog growls when they try to take a toy away, or when they get near his food, they frequently allow the dog to get his way in these matters, or punish him for growling, instead of correcting the behavior appropriately.
For example: If the growls if one tries to take something from him that he perceives as his (resource guarding), and one leaves him be, he learns that this is appropriate and acceptable behavior. The behavior could escalate into biting when someone tries to take his things, or even gets too close.
If one yells at, hits, or otherwise punishes the dog whenever he growls over a resource, the dog does not learn that it is unnacceptable to resource guard, he merely learns that it is unnaceptable to growl.
The growl is simply a dog's way of telling you that he does not like what you are doing. He is asking you to please stop what you are doing, or he may have to defend himself or his belongings. It is a warning, not a threat. It is the symptom of an underlying issue...not the issue itself.
If one simply punishes the growl behaviour without addressing the guarding behavior, the dog learns it is not okay to voice a warning, and is likely to forego the warning in the future, and go right to the next level...biting.
This applies to any form of warning vocalization or posturing in any situation.
3) Desired aggression:
Many dog owners want their dogs to be "tough". They encourage bad behaviours like excessive barking or growling at strangers. They praise the dog when he violently alerts to a knock on the door, or growls at a passerby on a walk.
These dogs are encouraged to see the outside world and the people and objects in it as a threat. The owner may have no intention of the dog every actually harming someone, or even be aware that he is setting the dog up for trouble, but the dog doesn't know that. All he knows is he is praised when he reacts violently...he is being a "good dog". When the neighbor comes over for a friendly chat, and the dog gets past the door and mauls him, he is only doing what he thinks he is supposed to be doing.
These are not "bad dogs". Had they been raised in a home and trained appropriately, they would have been just like any other of the millions of American dogs that never harm anyone.
4)Poor temperment:
Some dogs are born with mental instability (again, just like people.) These dogs may be raised in the very best, most knowledgeable homes, and still end up being "problem dogs". This is an issue that spans all breeds and mixes.
Temperment describes the genetic personality of a dog. What is and is not considered approprite temperment varries from breed to breed. For example, it is considered appropriate for guardian breeds (such as rottweillers and mastiffs) to be wary and aloof around strangers. This same behavior in many other breeds such as labs or American pit bull terriers is considered a flaw in temperment.
Fear aggression is the most dangerous of these issues, and is not an acceptable temperment for any breed.
Depending of the severity of the particular case, a genetically fearful dog may simply be shy or nervous. Most fear aggressive dogs start out this way. As the dog matures, genetic behavioral dissorders can either recede, or grow stronger.
Many people missinterpret a dog's fearful aggressive behavior as overt aggression or bravado. A dog that is standing in a corner on the other side of the room barking, snarling and growling at the guy who just walked in the door is not a brave dog who is trying to defend his home, he is a dog that lacks confidence and is terrified.
Dogs with severe fear issues often feel terribly threatened by everyday activities. If a dog like this ever feels backed into a corner, he is very likely to bite in perceived self defense. A toddler running full tilt towards him at the park might seem like a very real and frightening threat to a dog like this, as may a man in a strange uniform, or a woman who speaks in a strange tone of voice.
Some dogs with poor temperments are not fearful, but act impulsively with aggression to various stimuli, such as resource gaurding, territoriality, pain, or aggravation
Some dogs will redirect their fear and/or aggression on a person, animal, or object that is not the source of the upset. For example: A dog is excited and aggressing at a strange dog while he is on a walk. The owner grabs the dog's collar to attempt to pull him back, and the dog turns and bite's his owner's hand.
Each dog is different. Some dogs have a higher threshold for pain, fear, and aggravation than others do, even within the same breed. All dogs of any breed can and will bite...if pushed past their individual threshold.
There are an additional three sub factors in dog attacks:
1) Children
A huge majority of dog attacks involve children under ten years of age. This is not a coincidence. Young children do not innately know how to behave around animals. They tease, poke, pinch, pull ears, climb on and otherwise harrass dogs. Many dogs are fine with this sort of behavior. Some are less tolerant.
Many parents make the mistake of assuming that since the dog has not growled or bitten the child yet, that it never will. The dog may be displaying other signs of discomfort such as moving away from, and attempting to avoid the child. These signs are often overlooked, and the child is allowed to continue pestering the dog. Eventually, the dog gets fed up, and gives the child a warning bite. While this bite may not harm another dog with fur and loose skin, a bite like this could do a lot of damage to a child.
Many parents allow their children to approach strange dogs without asking the dog's owner if it is okay. A lot of these children do not know how to properly introduce themselves to a strange dog, and tend to approach in ways that are perceived as threatening by said dog.
The major reason that children are common victims of dog bites is that parents leave their children unnatended with their dogs. Your child may know how to behave around the dog...when you are there to correct them...but when you are not, kids will be kids...and they will push the boundries.
There was a case of a dog bite in which the family's black lab (who had been an adult at the birth of the child) severely bit the toddler's face. There had been no indications of issues prior to this, and the child was taught how to "play nice" with the dog. It was discovered that the parents had left the child and dog alone together in the living room for a few moments, and while they were gone, the child stabbed the dog in the anus with a pencil. Yeah. I would bite too.
Another factor is new parents and new babies. Many attacks involve infants and the family dog. In some of these situations the dogs may be ideal house pets, but they have never been exposed to a baby before. Parents make the assumption that the dog knows what a baby is all about. Some dogs do...some dogs don't.
Some dogs see the baby as a possible toy, or a prey item. Some dogs may see the baby as a "puppy" and try to treat it as such. A dog may attempt to move an infant, accidently harming it in it's attempts.
There was a case where a husky took a newborn out of his crib, carried or dragged him out of his room, down the stairs, outside through the open sliding glass door, and into the bushes in the yard, where he was found over an hour later. As his father attempted to retrieve him, the dog continued to pick the infant up, and move him away. The infant was severley injured, but not from mauling...from being carried and dragged around.
There is a case where a pug was left alone with a baby, and chewed it's ear off. Another case where a pomeranion chewed the nose and cheek off of an infant. These were not "aggressive" attacks. These were simply dogs chewing on an object that they did not know they weren't supposed to chew on.
There was a case where three pekingese dogs attacked and killed a one year old infant that had been left unnatended outside (who does that?). A case where a jack russel terrier visciously tore the throat out of an infant left unnatended on his parent's bed, and a case where a Siberian husky jumped into a toddler's playpen and tore him apart. These three are examples of dogs who saw their victims not as human children and members of the "pack" but as prey items.
2) Altering
Around 60% of dog attacks on humans are perpetrated by unnuetered male dogs. Read into that what you will. It could mean that an intact male is more likely to bite or become aggressive. I don't think that's the case. I tend to think that the correlation between intact males and human attacks is in direct relation to the next topic, as most responsible pet owners have their pets altered.
3) Irrisponsible ownership
This is the be-all and end-all of dog attack causation. Everything else falls under this category in some way or another.
There are as many ways to be an irrisponsible dog owner as there are people on this planet, many of which can lead ultimately to a dog attack. From neglect, abuse, and isolation, to leaving children unnatended with dogs, to letting dogs roam free.
Lack of training, innopropriate training, not addressing behavioral issues when they begin to surface, failing to notice signs of trouble, and ignoring or making excuses for signs when they do show up, are all symptoms of irrisponsibility.
Unfortunately the vast majority of dog attacks occur in the home and the victim is a member of the family. The family frequently never knew what hit them. We always hear phrases such as "he just snapped", "he's never done anything like this before", "out of the blue", etc.
There are always signs, often these signs have been there for quite some time, they are just missinterpreted or go unnoticed, Had the family been aware of what to look for beforehand, they could have taken steps to prevent these attacks.
The media puts out stories of dog attacks on a daily basis. Most of these stories are poorly researched, extremely biased, missing vast amounts of information, or handing out straight misinformation. Quite frequently, the story will change depending on which media outlets are covering it.
Dog attacks are being reported as if the country were filled with Jekyl and Hyde dogs that are loving family pets one second, and the next... viscious killers.
The fact of the matter is...dogs don't "snap". They don't "turn on you out of the blue".
There are four major factors that can lead to a dog attacking:
1) Abuse, neglect, and isolation:
Many of the dogs described as "family pets" in these stories are anything but. They are chained in the backyard with minimal human interaction for years; locked in basements and garages and closets. Some are physically neglected and/or abused.
Dogs that have been physically or mentally abused can be pushed beyond their threshold and "attack" in self defense. For a dog like this, he may lash out at the one who hits him. He may be so mentaly traumatized by his experiences, that he is incapable of discerning a true threat from a perceived one, and may be frightened when the family toddler falls on top of him or steps on his tail...resulting (in the dog's eyes) in a purely defensive bite.
Socialization is vastly important to a dog's mental well being and ability to act appropriately in different situations and around different people. Dogs that have been isolated from the outside world, and in many cases...their own families, can become mentally unbalanced (just like a person would).
Being isolated in the same spot for their entire lives, many dogs develop serious territorial issues. To a dog like this, a neighborhood child climbing the fence, or coming in through the gate would be considered a threat to the dog's tiny world. Since he has not been socialized with people outside of his home, any stranger is a potential threat. Members of the dogs own family can sometimes be perceived as a threat.
2) Innapropriate or lack of training:
Dogs do not have a moral code. They do not understand such concepts as "right and wrong" or the legal system, nor can they consider the possible abstract consequences of any decisions they may make. The only variables that influence a dog's decisions are "does it feel good right now?" or "does it feel not good right now?"
A dog has to be trained in every aspect of living alongside humans. He has to be taught not to potty in the house, not to jump on people, not to chase moving objects. He has to be taught NOT to bite. He has to be taught that different people and children are good. He has to be taught not to aggresively guard his food and toys and space.
Many dog attacks are the result of allowing a dog to misbehave. A young dog who is allowed to playfully jump and mouth people can become an adult dog with no bite inhibition. This means he is more likely to use his teeth to get his way.
Many family dogs are allowed to develop very poor and potentially dangerous behaviours by owners who either don't realize the potential issues, or who are simply unnaware of how to curb such behaviors.
If the dog growls when they try to take a toy away, or when they get near his food, they frequently allow the dog to get his way in these matters, or punish him for growling, instead of correcting the behavior appropriately.
For example: If the growls if one tries to take something from him that he perceives as his (resource guarding), and one leaves him be, he learns that this is appropriate and acceptable behavior. The behavior could escalate into biting when someone tries to take his things, or even gets too close.
If one yells at, hits, or otherwise punishes the dog whenever he growls over a resource, the dog does not learn that it is unnacceptable to resource guard, he merely learns that it is unnaceptable to growl.
The growl is simply a dog's way of telling you that he does not like what you are doing. He is asking you to please stop what you are doing, or he may have to defend himself or his belongings. It is a warning, not a threat. It is the symptom of an underlying issue...not the issue itself.
If one simply punishes the growl behaviour without addressing the guarding behavior, the dog learns it is not okay to voice a warning, and is likely to forego the warning in the future, and go right to the next level...biting.
This applies to any form of warning vocalization or posturing in any situation.
3) Desired aggression:
Many dog owners want their dogs to be "tough". They encourage bad behaviours like excessive barking or growling at strangers. They praise the dog when he violently alerts to a knock on the door, or growls at a passerby on a walk.
These dogs are encouraged to see the outside world and the people and objects in it as a threat. The owner may have no intention of the dog every actually harming someone, or even be aware that he is setting the dog up for trouble, but the dog doesn't know that. All he knows is he is praised when he reacts violently...he is being a "good dog". When the neighbor comes over for a friendly chat, and the dog gets past the door and mauls him, he is only doing what he thinks he is supposed to be doing.
These are not "bad dogs". Had they been raised in a home and trained appropriately, they would have been just like any other of the millions of American dogs that never harm anyone.
4)Poor temperment:
Some dogs are born with mental instability (again, just like people.) These dogs may be raised in the very best, most knowledgeable homes, and still end up being "problem dogs". This is an issue that spans all breeds and mixes.
Temperment describes the genetic personality of a dog. What is and is not considered approprite temperment varries from breed to breed. For example, it is considered appropriate for guardian breeds (such as rottweillers and mastiffs) to be wary and aloof around strangers. This same behavior in many other breeds such as labs or American pit bull terriers is considered a flaw in temperment.
Fear aggression is the most dangerous of these issues, and is not an acceptable temperment for any breed.
Depending of the severity of the particular case, a genetically fearful dog may simply be shy or nervous. Most fear aggressive dogs start out this way. As the dog matures, genetic behavioral dissorders can either recede, or grow stronger.
Many people missinterpret a dog's fearful aggressive behavior as overt aggression or bravado. A dog that is standing in a corner on the other side of the room barking, snarling and growling at the guy who just walked in the door is not a brave dog who is trying to defend his home, he is a dog that lacks confidence and is terrified.
Dogs with severe fear issues often feel terribly threatened by everyday activities. If a dog like this ever feels backed into a corner, he is very likely to bite in perceived self defense. A toddler running full tilt towards him at the park might seem like a very real and frightening threat to a dog like this, as may a man in a strange uniform, or a woman who speaks in a strange tone of voice.
Some dogs with poor temperments are not fearful, but act impulsively with aggression to various stimuli, such as resource gaurding, territoriality, pain, or aggravation
Some dogs will redirect their fear and/or aggression on a person, animal, or object that is not the source of the upset. For example: A dog is excited and aggressing at a strange dog while he is on a walk. The owner grabs the dog's collar to attempt to pull him back, and the dog turns and bite's his owner's hand.
Each dog is different. Some dogs have a higher threshold for pain, fear, and aggravation than others do, even within the same breed. All dogs of any breed can and will bite...if pushed past their individual threshold.
There are an additional three sub factors in dog attacks:
1) Children
A huge majority of dog attacks involve children under ten years of age. This is not a coincidence. Young children do not innately know how to behave around animals. They tease, poke, pinch, pull ears, climb on and otherwise harrass dogs. Many dogs are fine with this sort of behavior. Some are less tolerant.
Many parents make the mistake of assuming that since the dog has not growled or bitten the child yet, that it never will. The dog may be displaying other signs of discomfort such as moving away from, and attempting to avoid the child. These signs are often overlooked, and the child is allowed to continue pestering the dog. Eventually, the dog gets fed up, and gives the child a warning bite. While this bite may not harm another dog with fur and loose skin, a bite like this could do a lot of damage to a child.
Many parents allow their children to approach strange dogs without asking the dog's owner if it is okay. A lot of these children do not know how to properly introduce themselves to a strange dog, and tend to approach in ways that are perceived as threatening by said dog.
The major reason that children are common victims of dog bites is that parents leave their children unnatended with their dogs. Your child may know how to behave around the dog...when you are there to correct them...but when you are not, kids will be kids...and they will push the boundries.
There was a case of a dog bite in which the family's black lab (who had been an adult at the birth of the child) severely bit the toddler's face. There had been no indications of issues prior to this, and the child was taught how to "play nice" with the dog. It was discovered that the parents had left the child and dog alone together in the living room for a few moments, and while they were gone, the child stabbed the dog in the anus with a pencil. Yeah. I would bite too.
Another factor is new parents and new babies. Many attacks involve infants and the family dog. In some of these situations the dogs may be ideal house pets, but they have never been exposed to a baby before. Parents make the assumption that the dog knows what a baby is all about. Some dogs do...some dogs don't.
Some dogs see the baby as a possible toy, or a prey item. Some dogs may see the baby as a "puppy" and try to treat it as such. A dog may attempt to move an infant, accidently harming it in it's attempts.
There was a case where a husky took a newborn out of his crib, carried or dragged him out of his room, down the stairs, outside through the open sliding glass door, and into the bushes in the yard, where he was found over an hour later. As his father attempted to retrieve him, the dog continued to pick the infant up, and move him away. The infant was severley injured, but not from mauling...from being carried and dragged around.
There is a case where a pug was left alone with a baby, and chewed it's ear off. Another case where a pomeranion chewed the nose and cheek off of an infant. These were not "aggressive" attacks. These were simply dogs chewing on an object that they did not know they weren't supposed to chew on.
There was a case where three pekingese dogs attacked and killed a one year old infant that had been left unnatended outside (who does that?). A case where a jack russel terrier visciously tore the throat out of an infant left unnatended on his parent's bed, and a case where a Siberian husky jumped into a toddler's playpen and tore him apart. These three are examples of dogs who saw their victims not as human children and members of the "pack" but as prey items.
2) Altering
Around 60% of dog attacks on humans are perpetrated by unnuetered male dogs. Read into that what you will. It could mean that an intact male is more likely to bite or become aggressive. I don't think that's the case. I tend to think that the correlation between intact males and human attacks is in direct relation to the next topic, as most responsible pet owners have their pets altered.
3) Irrisponsible ownership
This is the be-all and end-all of dog attack causation. Everything else falls under this category in some way or another.
There are as many ways to be an irrisponsible dog owner as there are people on this planet, many of which can lead ultimately to a dog attack. From neglect, abuse, and isolation, to leaving children unnatended with dogs, to letting dogs roam free.
Lack of training, innopropriate training, not addressing behavioral issues when they begin to surface, failing to notice signs of trouble, and ignoring or making excuses for signs when they do show up, are all symptoms of irrisponsibility.
Unfortunately the vast majority of dog attacks occur in the home and the victim is a member of the family. The family frequently never knew what hit them. We always hear phrases such as "he just snapped", "he's never done anything like this before", "out of the blue", etc.
There are always signs, often these signs have been there for quite some time, they are just missinterpreted or go unnoticed, Had the family been aware of what to look for beforehand, they could have taken steps to prevent these attacks.
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