Dog Bite Prevention: A Practical Checklist
Dog Bite Prevention: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Teaching children and adults how to behave around dogs, and what to do if a bite happens. About 4.5 million people in the US are bitten by dogs each year, and children are the most likely to be bitten and seriously hurt.
Key takeaways
- Dog bites a year: about 4.5 million in the US
- Most at risk: children, often by a dog they know
- Most useful single change: Always supervise young children with any dog.
- Commonest mistake: Leaving a baby or young child alone with a dog.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Always supervise young children with any dog
- Ask the owner before petting a dog, and let it sniff you first
- Teach children to leave dogs alone when they are eating, sleeping or caring for puppies
- For a bite, wash the wound with soap and warm water right away
Do not
- Leaving a baby or young child alone with a dog
- Running from, screaming at or staring down a dog
- Reaching through a fence or into a car to pet a dog
The numbers behind the list
Those two lists follow from the published figures here.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Dog bites a year | about 4.5 million in the US |
| Most at risk | children, often by a dog they know |
| Warning signs | stiff body, raised fur, growling, showing teeth, or a tucked tail |
| If approached by an unfamiliar dog | stand still, avoid eye contact and stay calm |
If you change one thing
Always supervise young children with any dog. That one first, and the others when you get to them.
Related topics
- What the Guidance Really Says About Malaria Prevention (Travel Health)
- Listeria in Pregnancy: What Published Guidance Supports (Food Safety)
- Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy: What the Evidence Actually Says (Pregnancy and Postpartum)
- Wound Care: What the Evidence Actually Says (Skin Health)
Where to go next
- A Q and A on Dog Bite Prevention
- The Short Guide to Dog Bite Prevention
- Dog Bite Prevention — the reference entry
- Injury Prevention: The Complete Guide
- Safe Sleep for Infants: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Car Seats and Seat Belts: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
See a doctor for any bite that is deep, will not stop bleeding, is on the face or hands, shows redness, swelling or warmth, or comes from a dog whose vaccination status is unknown; ask about tetanus and rabies. Call 911 for severe bleeding or a serious attack.
Where this comes from
- CDC — Preventing Dog Bites
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Dog Bites: Prevention and Treatment
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
