What Signals a Dog Is About to Attack?
By ANGELA CHEN, WSJ
Nearly 5 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year, according to the American Humane Association. Dog trainer Victoria Stilwell says most dog attacks are "perfect storms of human failure that could have been prevented." So how can you tell doggy playfulness from a prelude to an attack? Ms. Stilwell, chief executive of Atlanta-based Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training and host of Animal Planet show "It's Me or the Dog," offers some advice on how to read dog behavior to avoid an attack on a person or other dog.
Where and When
People are usually attacked on private property by a dog they know. "It happens when the relative has brought his dog over, or it happens at a friend's house," says Ms. Stilwell. "We just let our guard down here."
Warning Signs
Obvious signs include barking, growling, if the dog's ears are flat or suddenly prick up. Some dogs salivate when they are stressed, others cower.
The tricky thing is that many behaviors that seem friendly can be misleading. "A wagging tail doesn't always mean that the dog is happy," says Ms. Stilwell. "Dogs will wag their tails when they are upset or over-aroused." Similarly, if an unfamiliar dog rolls on its back to expose its belly, it doesn't necessarily want to be petted. It might be asking you to move away.
(More here.)
Nearly 5 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year, according to the American Humane Association. Dog trainer Victoria Stilwell says most dog attacks are "perfect storms of human failure that could have been prevented." So how can you tell doggy playfulness from a prelude to an attack? Ms. Stilwell, chief executive of Atlanta-based Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training and host of Animal Planet show "It's Me or the Dog," offers some advice on how to read dog behavior to avoid an attack on a person or other dog.
Where and When
People are usually attacked on private property by a dog they know. "It happens when the relative has brought his dog over, or it happens at a friend's house," says Ms. Stilwell. "We just let our guard down here."
Warning Signs
Obvious signs include barking, growling, if the dog's ears are flat or suddenly prick up. Some dogs salivate when they are stressed, others cower.
The tricky thing is that many behaviors that seem friendly can be misleading. "A wagging tail doesn't always mean that the dog is happy," says Ms. Stilwell. "Dogs will wag their tails when they are upset or over-aroused." Similarly, if an unfamiliar dog rolls on its back to expose its belly, it doesn't necessarily want to be petted. It might be asking you to move away.
(More here.)
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