How To Prevent California Dog Bites

Many people are bitten by dogs every year in California. While most dog bites in California are not serious, many of the dog attacks leave their victims with both physical and emotional scars. Dog bites can occur for many reasons, and there are many precautions that can be taken to minimize the risk of being bitten by a dog.

You should always try to avoid the potentially dangerous situation of invading a dog's territory and threatening a dog and its family. You should always avoid approaching or bending over dogs, especially if they are lying down. Also, you should never tease or wake a dog.

As a general rule in avoiding California dog bites, you should NOT:

• Hold your face close to a dog
• Approach an unfamiliar dog
• Startle a dog
• Leave a child alone with a dog
• Ignore warning signs of aggressive behavior
• Pet a dog without letting it see and sniff you first
• Make sudden movements, especially toward a dog's face

If you feel that a strange dog is threatened by you and may attack:

• Do not run from or scream at the dog
• Do not stare the dog in the eye
• If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball and do not move
  

Guidelines For Dog Owners In California

As the owner of a dog in California, you have the responsibility to ensure that your dog does not pose a danger to others. In order to do this, you should always follow these basic guidelines:

• Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered
• Do not train your dog to be aggressive/play rough
• Keep your dog on a leash at all times
• Do not leave your dog unsupervised, especially around children
• Keep your dog in a fenced yard and do not allow it to roam