While pet owners may think that knowing their pets well and avoiding high-risk situations will keep dogs from biting, this may not be enough.

Understanding Why Dogs Bite May Not Actually Prevent Biting

Dog lovers in Nevada may think they know enough about canine behavior to prevent attacks from happening especially when they are familiar with a dog, but research from the University of Liverpool shows that this might not be the case.

Why Canine Knowledge is Not Always Helpful

University researchers interviewed dog attack victims and found that there was not always time to interpret a dog’s behavior because bites sometimes happened before a person interacted with a dog. Another major reason why learning about canine behavior may not be enough to stop attacks is that people who considered themselves knowledgeable about dogs were still bit because they did not actually respond when dogs gave them warning signs. These people generally felt that they would not be bit, and therefore they did not change their behavior.

Changing the Approach

Studies indicate that some people just do not want to believe that a dog would bite as many blamed attacks on themselves when knowing a dog or on an owner when not knowing a dog. Since people seem reluctant to consider the possibility that a dog would actually bite them whether accidentally while playing or on purpose, one potential method for raising awareness about dog attacks could be similar to approaches used for car accidents that warn the public that ‘it could happen to you.’ This encourages citizens to wear seat belts and take precautions while driving. This method could be attuned to work for campaigns warning others about the danger of animal attacks. If a dog bites you or a loved one, seeking compensation may be necessary as wounds could require medical attention and are sometimes serious. A dog’s owner could be liable for medical expenses resulting from the attack. A personal injury lawyer might be able to give you more information about your potential case.