Dog bites affect millions of people annually and are a leading cause of dog euthanasia. Understanding bite prevention from a welfare perspective helps both people and dogs.
Dog bites represent a welfare issue for both dogs and people. Dogs that bite are almost always communicating fear, pain, or resource protection - the bite is the last resort of an animal that has exhausted subtler communication. A dog that bites and is subsequently euthanized for behavior that stemmed from pain, inadequate socialization, or chaining has suffered a welfare failure at multiple levels. Understanding dog body language - the early signals of discomfort that precede bites - allows intervention before bites occur. Teaching children to interact appropriately with dogs prevents the scenarios that lead to bites. Treating underlying pain and addressing fear through appropriate behavioral support prevents the escalation that leads to biting. Bite prevention is simultaneously human safety and dog welfare.