Should you be bitten by a dog report it to the police, the Ecology Department and the SPA. If blood is drawn go to the hospital on Reloj and get a tetanus shot. Be prepared for possible infection to form in the days ahead. It is very important to locate the dog and determine if it has had a rabies vaccination. The department of ecology told me that dogs do not get "one free bite" but rather a dog who bites is subject to euthanasia first time around!!!!!
Dogs bite for a variety of reasons but quite probably the primary reason is that the dog has been undersocialized. If a dog is separated from its litter mates and mom before the proper age (no younger than 7 weeks and preferably at least 8) the dog may well be impossible to socialize properly no matter what efforts an owner makes. Some dogs have a primary interest in only attacking other dogs and very often the attacks are directed at the very small dogs - even puppies! A dog who attacks puppies is very, very sick indeed! But, there are certainly dogs whose primary interest is in biting people.

While the average street dog may be timid and reluctant to have a strange human touch it the action it will most likely take is to run off - not to bite. The biting from such a dog would result from the dog being prevented from fleeing. Sad to say the most likely dog to fear is one with a home but suffering from poor temperament (an inherited trait), separated from the litter too early and/or not socialized throughout puppyhood. Another type dog is the one whose owner says - "Oh, he just nips now and then." Dogs who "nip" are simply practicing so that one day they can do a really good job of it!

It is increasingly popular for people to have breeds with strong guarding instincts and to think that such dogs offer protection. While the dog may well bite an intruder the sad reality is that many innocent people get bitten instead. It does not take a genius to teach a dog to bite but it takes understanding, training, proper attention and a lot of time to properly teach a dog priorities. And dogs with unstable temperaments can never - NEVER - be trusted. As for the protection a dog provides a homeowner it is primarily in its presence and because it makes noise. Anyone determined to get into a house is not going to be stopped by a dog but the dog may well be stopped permanently by the intruder!

A woman told me a horror story about being bitten and the owner suggested that her solution to prevent future bites would be to chain the dog during the day and allow the dog freedom in the yard at night. Chaining a dog is almost a guarantee to increase the aggression. In fact, just walking down the street with one's dog leashed and tightening that leash at the approach of some supposed threat (some unknown dog, for instance) is sure to cause the leashed dog to react with anything from excitement to full blown aggression. And trust me when I say that trying to teach handlers to walk with a loose leash is probably the most difficult problem I encounter in my training classes!

There is no easy protection against a crazed dog that leaps out of a doorway and attacks. It happens so fast that most people can do nothing to help themselves. However, if you are walking your dog in town or the countryside I urge you to carry a very sturdy walking stick (no broom handles, please!) and to wear sturdy shoes. If you see a dog approaching do not make eye contact. Learn about canine body posturing to be better prepared to "read" the dog's message. If aggression is being demonstrated stop - do not progress forward. Do not turn and run away. Often dogs are deterred just by stooping to pick up a stone but not always - you may need to use that stick!

Be certain that your dog has been taught proper leash manners, that you know how to use a leash properly and that your dog is not behaving in a manner that invites trouble. Should a fight take place do not try to separate the dogs with your hands - use that stick and those sturdy shoes you are wearing.

Report all dangerous dogs to the authorities and let's see if we cannot make the streets a safer place than they are at present.