What language does an animal speak?
- English
- Spanish
- Doglish
- None of the Above
The answer is "None of the Above" Animals speak to us and each other through body language. That means that they expect others to be aware of their eyes, ears, mouth, stance, tail, mood, and the sound that they make. An animal normally gives a warning before they bite, the question is…
Are we (humans) listening
Among children, the rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years. Recent research shows that the rate of dog–bite related injuries among children appears to be on the decrease.
Among adults, males are more likely to be bitten than female adults.
Safety Tips
- Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
- Do not run from a dog or scream.
- Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
- If Standing remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog. If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "become still like a rock").
- Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
- Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
- Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
- If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.
- Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
- Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.
- Children should not hug dogs or have their face close to a dog’s mouth.
- Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
- Socialize your dog with other people and animals.
- Do not allow children to kick or hit a dog, or pull whiskers, tails, or fur.
- A heightened level of stress or aggression in an environment may make a dog more likely to bite.
- Spaying/neutering your dog often reduces aggressive tendencies.