Companion Animals

Dog Bite Prevention Welfare

Dog bites cause welfare harm to both victims and dogs, with most bites preventable through improved owner education, socialisation, and recognition of canine communication signals.

Key Facts

Approximately 250,000 people are bitten by dogs annually in the UK requiring medical attention
The majority of bites occur from dogs known to the victim, often family pets
Children are most commonly bitten by dogs and suffer the most severe injuries
Dogs bite when afraid, in pain, protecting resources, or their signals are ignored
Breed-specific legislation has not reduced bite incidence and is considered ineffective

Welfare Considerations

Dog bites harm both victims and dogs whose lives are often ended following biting incidents. Prevention through education and improved socialisation protects both humans and dogs.

What You Can Do

Learn to read canine body language to recognise fear and stress signals
Never approach an unfamiliar dog without the owner's consent
Teach children safe dog interaction including not approaching dogs that are eating or sleeping
Support dog bite prevention education programmes in schools and communities