Bruno, an eight-year-old male golden retriever, enjoys a pat on the head from his young owner. Photo: David Leswick.
Bruno, an eight-year-old male golden retriever, enjoys a pat on the head from his young owner. Photo: David Leswick.

October 2022

Over half a million dog bites occur each year in Canada and children make up half of the bite victims.

Prevent dog bites

Over half a million dog bites occur each year in Canada and children make up half of the bite victims. Most bites are from dogs owned by family and friends, and many of the injuries happen because of children’s actions.

To prevent dog bites from occurring, watch for signals: frequent lip-licking, yawning, showing a “half-moon” eye, stretching or body shaking are all signs of stress in a dog.

As an owner, make sure to socialize your dog, invest in basic training, and provide your pet with a safe haven from noise.

As a parent, constant monitoring is critical: never leave a child alone with a dog and never assume that a dog will tolerate a child’s actions.

Click here to view a WCVM PetED Talk on dog bite prevention. 

Share this story