Dog Safety tips Even the friendliest dog will bite if it feels threatened or afraid. In addition, dogs will often bite during play. While this kind of bite is usually gentle, it can still be painful and may cause injury in small children. For this reason, there are a number of precautions that you should take, especially when approaching an unfamiliar dog. Firstly, always be sure to gain permission from the owner before petting a dog. An aware owner will know about their dog’s behaviour and whether it will be comfortable being petted by strangers. Also, it is advisable to never pet a dog when it is sleeping, eating, or in a fenced area. Dogs can be protective of their food and territory and may resort to biting. Never approach a dog exhibiting aggressive or strange behaviour; instead, contact an animal safety organization, like the SPCA, to report unfamiliar dogs. |