In the United Kingdom, more than 200,000 individuals are bitten by dogs each year and roughly 6,000 of those require medical attention. In fact, dog bites cost the NHS more than £3 million each year.
Even if you think your dog is about as ferocious as the Queen’s corgis, it is wise to minimise the potential risks as you can be fined up to £20,000 or sent to prison for six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. To help keep your dog calm around your home and prevent it from biting, follow these six pieces of advice
- Spay or neuter your dog to reduce its desire to roam and become aggressive with other dogs and humans.
- Introduce your dog to various situations and people so that it will not be nervous in new social circumstances.
- Enrol your dog in training courses to learn how to respect humans and the rules you establish in your home.
- Train your dog to act properly at all times. When the dog exhibits signs of aggression, even in a playful manner, put a stop to it. Your pet does not understand the difference between playtime and a real-life attacking situation.
- Provide your dog with regular veterinary care, vaccinations and licensing.
- Do not bring your dog into social situations if you are unsure how it will react. This will reduce the chance that something could go wrong.
