Young Unsupervised Children Most At Risk For Dog Bites Study Shows; Dogs Often Target A Child’s Face And Eyes
- Date:
- University of Colorado Denver
- Summary:
- As dog bites become an increasingly major public health concern, a new study shows that unsupervised children are most at risk for bites, that the culprits are usually family pets and if they bite once, they will bite again with the second attack often more brutal than the first.
As dog bites become an increasingly major public health concern, a new study shows that unsupervised children are most at risk for bites, that the culprits are usually family pets and if they bite once, they will bite again with the second attack often more brutal than the first.
The study, the largest of its kind, was done by Vikram Durairaj, MD, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who found that dogs usually target a child’s face and eyes and most often it’s a breed considered ‘good’ with children, like a Labrador retriever.
“People tend to think the family dog is harmless, but it’s not,” said Durairaj, associate professor of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, who presented his study last month at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting. “We have seen facial fractures around the eye, eye lids torn off, injury to the tear drainage system and the eyeball itself.”
Some wounds are so severe that patients require multiple reconstructive surgeries.
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Despite Their Titled Heritage Golden Retrievers Didn’t Win Breed Recognition Until The 1920s
Golden Retrievers were developed starting in 1850 by the Scotsman Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, the Lord of Tweedmouth. Hunting birds was popular at the time, both as sport and as a practical way of obtaining food. Marjoribanks sought a medium-sized bird dog to support the hunt. The breed was developed by crossing a Retriever with a Water Spaniel, then crossing their offspring with Bloodhounds, Irish Setters, the St. John’s Water Dog, and other Retrievers. Golden Retrievers were first shown in 1908, at the U.K.’s Crystal Palace. They were entered as “flat coats ” rather than the name we know them by today.
It took until 1925 for the breed to win official American Kennel Club recognition. Today, Golden Retrievers are still used for hunting and field trials, and they also perform obedience and guide dog work.
How Does A Golden Retrievers Hunting Background That Affect How They Interact With Kids
Golden Retrievers were bred and used as hunting dogs, but this will not affect how they interact with others. Originally they spent time outdoors with their human hunting companions, retrieving waterfowl and game.
Historically many dog breeds that were used for other working purposes. Despite these occupations Golden Retrievers and other dogs held, today they make great companion animals. Many of the qualities these dogs had, is what makes them so good at being companions to humans.
Their bodies are designed to perform these activities, but their temperament and nature are loving and gentle, despite this background. Their physical traits were a good match for these activities because they were combined with their loyal, caring, and dependable nature.
These traits had them follow instructions and perform the work requested without much fuss. Their love to be close to their human companions and to please others, is what made them good at this activity but also good at being a part of a family.
Want To Ensure Your Golden Retriever Will Be Good Around Kids Do These 3 Things
Although most goldens are naturally good with kids, if you want to give yourself the best shot at having a golden that’s great around kids, do these three things:
Socialize them
We talked a little about this in the section about aggression, but to make sure that your golden is calm and confident around your kids , be sure to socialize them.
Help them have positive experiences while kids are screaming or running around, or when you bust out the big scary stroller.
Also, get them used to different types of people in different types of outfits and situations.
Train them
When your golden is obedient, you’ll be able to control them better.
Did your kid just puke all over the floor?
Asking your dog to sit and stay will make your life much easier.
Did your kid just fall and bust their knee?
They might not want your dog all up in their business right then and there, so asking your golden to sit and stay while you make everything better will also make life easier for everyone.
Exercise them
A tired dog is a good dog.
If your golden has pent up energy, they can chew up the house, run around the house, or be more apt to jump on your children.
But if you mentally and physically stimulate your dog, many of their bad behaviors will go away.
You can get some of that energy out by training them, playing games like fetch and tug, and giving them puzzle toys.
Golden retrievers are one of the best breeds for families with children.
They’re sweet, gentle dogs that love being around people.
What Can Be Done If My Dog Is Already Showing Some Aggression Toward Children
Keeping children safe throughout this process is the primary concern. Once a dog has shown any signs of fear or aggression around children, you cannot assume that he/she will be safe to leave with children. Even if the dog has had several positive encounters with children, an adult should closely monitor all interactions. Sometimes an individual dog will never be safe around children.
Desensitization
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is another excellent tool for helping dogs become more comfortable around children. The goal is to give the dog’s favorite treats whenever children come near. In this way, the dog will learn to associate children with getting tasty treats. When the dog is well acclimated, children can offer treats to the dogs whenever they approach. Remember to keep the child’s safety in mind. Start by exposing the dog to a child that is being carried by an adult. Only allow the child to interact directly with the dog once the dog is showing no signs of fear or aggression and is looking excited about the encounter.
Two Presidents Enjoyed Golden Retrievers As Pets While In The White House
Both President Ford and President Reagan enjoyed Golden Retrievers while in office. President Reagan’s Golden Retriever, Victory, was one of six dogs the president owned. President Reagan also enjoyed a stable full of horses at his ranch.
President Ford had a Siamese cat and a mixed-breed dog in addition to Liberty the Golden Retriever and Liberty’s puppy, Misty.
Goldens are also popular as celebrity pets. Celebs who own Golden Retrievers include Miranda Lambert, Jimmy Fallon, Emma Stone, Adam Levine, and Oprah.
How Aggressive They Are/were In That Moment And The Time Leading Up To It
If your dog is doing it out of aggression more than mere playfulness, then that behavior must be attended to right away.
Often during the moments leading up to the dire situation, dogs perfectly convey their position and their feelings openly. A dog’s ears are the quickest way to determine how they are feeling.
When they put their ears back and down, it means they are preparing themselves for a fight. The tail is a tell-tale sign of their preparation. Growls and barks become consistent with scaring the potential enemy away.
Punish Them Subtly And Reward Them Tremendously When They Behave Well :
One of the few useful tactics is to treat your Golden Retriever well. Your dog may be biting due to certain issues like you being harsh and strict with them. Which is why it is important to be soft with them.
This is true for Golden Retriever pups as well as adult dogs. Present them with their favorite cookie or a swimming session if they behave well as per their regular standards.
The best treatment is to reward them when they do good instead of punishing their bad behavior. Keep your punishments less, low, and subtle and your rewards massive and frequent.
Aggressive Golden Retriever : Recognize Aggression Signs & Deal With It
While most people do not think that agressive golden retriever is a problem, it can be depending how the dog was raised. If a dog or puppy is abused from early on and then you adopt this dog, it can have some aggressive dog behavior that needs to be corrected as soon as possible.
The kind, friendly, and confident manner of Golden Retrievers have made them so popular that many unscrupulous breeders were attracted towards them. As a result, careless breeding of Golden Retrievers have developed several health and temperament problems. Unprovoked Golden Retriever aggression is one such problem that has developed due to irresponsible breeding. Though aggression is an instinctive nature of Golden Retrievers, they were never unwanted. Golden Retrievers had shown aggression to hunt, to defend themselves from other creatures, to defend resources such as food, a place to sleep, and a mate. Golden Retriever aggression has been classified in several ways — dog aggression, food aggression, aggression towards strangers, and aggression towards family members are some of the common types.
Golden Retrievers Are So Popular In Movies Due To Their Obedient Nature
Golden Retrievers are often featured in movies and television shows, including Air Bud and Homeward Bound. While the breed is certainly cute, it’s not their beauty that gets Goldens so many television spots. It’s their mellow nature, combined with their trainability.
Golden Retrievers are easy to train, and they perform reliably and consistently. That’s what makes them such popular guide dogs, and it’s also what led the breed to take first in AKC obedience trials when they were introduced in 1977.
Bite Risk Seems Greatest From Pit Bulls And Dogs With Wide Short Heads
Most of the 83 million dogs owned in the United States are peaceful, friendly animals that are viewed as loving, non-threatening family members. However, just like many common household implements, such as knives and scissors, which are usually safely used, but sometimes cause injuries, dogs can cause harm under certain circumstances.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 4.7 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs every year. While 80 percent of these bites are relatively minor and do not require medical attention, the remaining 20 percent vary in their severity, with some causing permanent scarring or even death. Children make up more than half of the victims of dog bites , and according to the CDC, the individuals who require treatment after dog bites are predominantly children aged 5 to 9 years.
Over the years, a number of studies have suggested that some dog breeds are more prone to harming people than others, although there is still much controversy about these conclusions. However, given the fact that we are often dealing with the safety of young children in a household, it is important that as much data as possible should be gathered.
Combining the severity and frequency of biting data indicated that pit bulls and mixed breed dogs had the highest relative bite damage risk. These were followed by German shepherds, Jack Russell Terriers, and Rottweilers.
Facebook Image: Christin Lola/Shutterstock
References
Tips And Tricks To Get A Golden Retrievers To Sleep Through The Night
Puppies can be hard to train and take care for sometimes, but hopefully these tips can help you get to a full night sleep faster!
- Take them out to go potty right before bedtime; this will put them in a routine and gives them the best chance to make it through the night without having to potty.
- Establish a bedtime early! Letting them stay up late only makes them change their sleep pattern for future nights.
- Try to move their crate as little as possible. Keeping it in the same soothing environment will make it easier for the puppy to establish that as their safe sleeping space.
- If they need to go to the potty in the middle of the night, don’t punish them! Puppies have small bladders and can’t hold it as long as older dogs can. It’s better for them to wake you up then to go potty in their crate or in the house.
- When they wake up, they are going to want to play! Take some time in the morning to allow them to let energy out.
- Stay patient with yourself and your pup, they are learning, too!
Dogs And Babies: Why You Shouldnt Train Your Dog In The Way You Think
Pet experts offer advice on how you can keep both your pup and children safe.
New babies are a bundle of joy, as the saying goes. But bringing an infant home can also be a chaotic time for parents — and pups— alike.
Twitter user @misguidedsoul7 shares his experience of coming home with his wife and newborn baby to their energetic golden retriever, Sammy.
“When she came home with our son, she could barely walk, and our pup enthusiastically greeted our son — he was so strong, our son so tiny, and my wife so weak,� he says.
It’s only natural for stressed-out new parents to wonder how to keep their children and canines safe and happy when introducing a new family member to their home, especially as recent reports emerge regarding the uptick in dog bites during the pandemic.
Jennifer Shryock is the founder of Family Paws Parent Education, which provides specialized education for new and expecting families with dogs. She’s well-attuned to the chaos of introducing new family members to old canine ones.
“Those beginning days and weeks home — it can be rather intense for people,� Shryock tells Inverse. “There is no new parent who feels 100 percent comfortable with their dog right next to their brand new baby. And often that leads to stress.�
Do Golden Retrievers Bite & How To Stop Golden Retriever From Biting
If you are asking: Do Golden Retrievers Bite? The answer is yes and no. In this article you will learn How To Stop Golden Retriever From Biting. For the most part, Golden Retriever dogs are incredibly devoted and caring dogs that make a great family pet. However, sometimes a combination of environmental factors and personality traits can create a situation where Golden Retriever biting becomes a major issue. If you’re currently dealing with Golden Retriever biting, know that it is not a lost cause.
Dogs being dogs are predators in nature. So are Golden Retrievers! Predatory instincts in Golden Retriever dogs never completely disappear. They may continue chasing other animals, small children, and biting at things and peoples. Is your Golden Retriever biting and barking your visitors away? Looking for effective ways to handle this? Domestication can mitigate this behavior to the extent that they become a truly docile member of your family. Here’s how to stop golden retriever from biting.
Golden Retriever First Heat: Prevent Pregnancy During The Heat Cycle
Besides the diapers, there are other precautions you should take to prevent your dog from getting pregnant. Just like we did with our females in sweat, you should always make sure they’re in a chick with a top. You’re going to be surprised by what a male dog is capable of with a scent of estrus in his nose.
The first step is to know when your female is likely to get heavy. Mark it on your calendar with a week’s leeway on either side of it when you think it’s probably going to hit you. When time passes, place a white, clean sheet on your dog’s bed. That’s the best way to see when she starts bleeding.
Golden Retriever Bite Force: How Strong Is A Golden Retrievers Bite
A Golden Retriever’s bite force is estimated to be around 190 psi.
This is only an estimate as very few studies have actually been done to measure bite force in common dog breeds. Compare that to a human, that can exert about 100 – 150 psi bite force with their molars!
The Golden Retriever is bred to have what is known as a “soft bite”. This is a genetic quality characteristic of the breed.
Goldens are hunting dogs that have been bred to retrieve, that is, to go and pick up the fallen prey and bring it back to the hunter, undamaged.
They instinctively understand that their bite is not their strongest defense and therefore do not tend to react by biting impulsively.
Golden Retriever Puppy May Bite Due To Previous Attack Or Accident
The Golden Retriever puppy with a traumatic history like accidents, hit by a car, animal attacks, etc., are very vulnerable. Moreover, the pet is always alert, anxious, and insecure. Therefore, the Golden Retriever puppy becomes aggressive and may bite when unfamiliar guests approach.
Thus, you should give the puppy more care, attention, and love to regain its trust.
Couple Indicted Over Death Of Granddaughter Bitten By Their Dog
Police have sent papers to prosecutors on a 60-year-old man and his 58-year-old wife, charging them with involuntary manslaughter over the death of their 10-month-old granddaughter who was bitten by their pet dog at their house in Hachioji, Tokyo, two years ago.
The child, Midori Yasuda, was crawling on the floor when her grandparents’ four-year-old golden retriever suddenly approached her and bit her on the head at around 4:30 p.m. on March 9, 2017, Fuji TV reported.
The baby was taken to hospital, but died about two and a half hours later.
Midori, who had just learned to crawl, often stayed at her grandparents’ house. On the day of her death, her mother had dropped her off at a daycare center but she was feeling unwell, so her grandparents brought her to their home where her mother was to pick her up after work.
The grandparents told police that their pet dog was usually very quiet and was not a threat to anyone.
You Shouldnt Leave Your Golden Retriever Alone For More Than 4
Goldens create strong bonds with their owners, meaning they’re great family dogs. They’re willing to please their humans and love being around children of all ages because kids are always ready to play.
Leaving your Golden by herself all day will only make her suffer, which in time can generate depression, separation anxiety, and in some cases destructive behavior.
Hiring a pet walker or taking your Golden to dog care during the day can help, but none of these solutions replaces your presence. Only buy or adopt one of these dogs if you or other family members have time to play with her every day.
How Can I Prevent My Dog From Being Aggressive Toward Children
The best way to address aggression toward children is to prevent it. During their socialization period , puppies are highly curious and impressionable. Making sure that puppies have numerous positive encounters with children of all ages during this period can help them cultivate a positive attitude towards children later on in life. Desensitizing them to being touched around the face and head and even tugged on gently will prepare them for the ways that they are touched by children. After 14 weeks of age, puppies become considerably more apprehensive of their surroundings and react more fearfully to threatening stimuli. It is important to avoid negative experiences during this time as much as possible. Do not use punishment techniques to make sure that dogs do not become fearful. Striking a dog can specifically cause a fear of being touched and may put children at a greater risk. Keep in mind that interactions with children outside of the home are not necessarily protective against fear and anxiety when later children occupy the home with the dog.
When choosing a dog for a family with children, take several factors into account. Consider breed and family history as well as the dog’s history of behavior around children. Try to spend time with the dog before adopting the dog into a house with children. Look for signs of fear, apprehension, or avoidance in the dog or in the children.
How To Recognize The Signs Of Aggression In Golden Retrievers
Aggressive behavior in any dog is easy to spot, ears will be laid back, teeth showing and body more in a downward slant as if to attack its prey. In addition, you should be able to recognize the signs of dog aggression to learn how to deal with an aggressive golden retriever dog. This signs can include:
It is important to recognize the type of golden retriever aggression that your dog is displaying because sometimes it is just situational, such as pain aggression. Dogs are like people and they deal with pain differently, which means that some dogs want you to comfort them when they are in pain and others want you to leave them alone.
It is vital you know the cues your dog is giving you so that you understand if it is situational or if your dog needs obedience training. While golden retrievers are not know for their aggressiveness, any dog in certain situations can become aggressive.
Tips On How To Create Enough Space For Your Golden Retriever
Your golden retriever needs love and attention, but it also needs enough space to play. Because dogs are territorial animals, it’s important that they have areas in your home for them to play, hide, and sleep. Below are some creative ways on how to create more space for your golden:
Give Your Dog Their Own Room
You may have heard of people crating their dogs and how great crates are? If you don’t have experience with crates and dogs you may think it sounds mean or cruel to crate your dog. Dogs have a natural denning instinct, and they prefer a safe and enclosed place for their naps. Therefore, it’s important to crate train your pup.
However, before you crate your dog, you need to first exercise them and take them potty. This is why dogs need some room to play and exercise before you can crate them. Parents often have a playroom in the house for their kids, so why not have a play area for your dog?
As an example, maybe you live in a small house with a basement? You can turn your basement into a dog room. Put your dogs’ crate and toys down there so that they can have a space to feel safe and comfortable when you’re not available.
Using your basement as a doggie playroom will keep your dog stimulated enough, and they won’t destroy your home when left alone. This can come in handy to keep your dog occupied even when you’re at home, but you’re unable to give your golden your full attention.
Get a dog exercise pen or playpen
Consider the outdoors
Use wall shelves
Use Some Tested Methods To Stop Golden Retriever Form Biting
You can use several tried and tested methods to stop Golden Retriever dog from biting – a firm NO, a slight rebuke, a loud yell, a distraction to something else – all of them work. However, realizing that it is absolutely a natural behavior for them, you have to be patient and rational. In the course of time, over your understanding of your Golden retriever dog, you will see that you yourself develop an ingenious method, consciously or subconsciously, to stop biting behavior in your Golden retriever dog or puppy.
Illness And Injury Lead Your Golden Retriever Puppy To Bite
The Golden Retriever puppies experience immense pain during injury or illness. And since the only way of expressing their feeling is through body language, they bite or nip their owners to get the attention. Apart from this, health issues make the pet fragile. Thus, the puppy feels unsafe and suspects everything. So, if you try to touch the pet, your Golden Retriever puppy may pet in defense.
Youll Have To Hide Your Shoes Because Goldens Love To Chew
These dogs like to carry things and, often when they’re bored, will start moving your stuff around the house. They’re famous for their chewing habits so provide her with resistant toys, specially made for heavy chewers, and don’t let her get too bored during the day.
Lock up your shoes, telephones, remote controls, games, kitchen utensils, clothes, and small pillows, or they’ll meet a very messy end. Also, move your garbage can inside a cabinet or in a place your dog can’t access.
She should never go through your dinner leftovers as eating human food can harm Golden Retrievers. For safety reasons, hide all electric cables before bringing your puppy or new dog home.
The crate is a good way to keep your dog away from temptations when you’re not around. This way she’ll be in a safe place and you won’t have to worry about the Nintendo you’ve forgotten on the sofa before going to bed.
Golden Retrievers Aggression In Comparison To Other Breeds
Maybe a Doberman, Pit Bull, or even Chihuahuas, but Golden Retrievers? Not so much.
Aggression in Golden Retrievers, however, can be triggered by unfamiliar situations, fear of another dog, or any causes listed in the previous section. Most often, simply diverting his attention can cause aggression to stop. I
strongly suggest not to reward any sort of aggressive behavior in your Golden Retriever no matter what.
Do not give him toys or treats as a method of trying to divert his attention or he might see this as a reward and become even more aggressive.
This breed is quite intelligent and when you don’t over-react and act normally when he is aggressive, this will discourage him from displaying aggression in the future.
Separation Anxiety Provokes Golden Retriever Puppy To Bite
Golden Retriever puppy requires more care and attention. Furthermore, since the puppy is new to the world, it feels odd and insecure. And if you leave your pet for too long, it becomes insecure.
As a result, the puppy feels every approaching object as a threat. So, the Golden Retriever puppy may bite to defend itself.
Mistreat From Breeder Cause Golden Retriever Puppy To Bite
If you want a healthy puppy with good attributes, you should choose a reliable breeder for buying. Some breeders beat, threaten, and locks the puppies in dark rooms to control their behavior. But instead of disciplining the pet, the harsh behaviors of the breeders make the Golden Retriever puppy aggressive.
Thus, the puppy does not trust the people and feels everyone causes harm. As a consequence, the Golden Retriever puppy may bite people around it to protect itself.
Why A Golden Retriever Might Not Be Right For Your Family
Although golden retrievers make great pets, they’re not right for every family.
Here are some reasons that goldens might not be good for your family:
Golden retrievers are boisterous puppies
As puppies, goldens are energetic and excitable, and a crying baby or bumbling toddler can get them riled up.
Of course, the toddler and puppy phases will go by quick, so take this with a grain of salt, but just be aware that while your golden is a puppy they’ll require extra supervision around your children.
Golden retrievers have needs, too
Golden retrievers are not exactly low maintenance dogs.
They’re high energy breeds that need lots of exercise and attention.
A house with kids could be the perfect fit for a golden, but if you’re always away at soccer practice, or always changing diapers and trying to get the kids to sleep, it may be tough to attend to the needs of your golden retriever too.
Golden Retriever Puppy May Bite Due To Environment Change
An unfamiliar environment makes the puppy nervous and uncomfortable. Thus, the behavior of the pet change with the fluctuation in the surrounding. And if the new surrounding of the puppy is loud or noisy, the pet feels insecure and anxious.
Therefore, the pet develops aggressive attributes. As a result, your Golden Retriever puppy may bite more often.
Does your Golden Retriever puppy bite a lot?
Do you have any fatal experiences resulting from the biting habit of the pet?
What did you do to control the pet?
What Are Tips To Prevent Biting Of Golden Retriever Puppy
Teaching and training the puppy needs lots of effort and time. Moreover, if you spend your days working in the office, it might be hard to manage the time. Therefore, here are some quick tips that could help you to stop your Golden Retriever puppy bite.:
- Take your pet for a regular checkup.
- Feed the Golden Retriever with all essential nutrients.
- Consult the Vet and provide the pet with nutritional supplements.
- Provide adequate training and exercise.
- Restrict the kids from pulling the tail of your pet.
- Maintain a peaceful environment in the house.
- Give your pet extra attention and care if it is suffering from health issues.
- Use natural snacks for positive reinforcement during exercise.
- Do not ignore the abnormal behavior of your pet. Instead, seek advice from professionals to know the root cause of the behavior.
- Take your Golden Retriever to social gatherings, walks, and meetings to make your pet familiar with people and to increase your bond with your pet.
Furthermore, if you have a puppy, you must be cautious about everything. As the Golden Retrievers are prone to several diseases, your negligence may lead to fatal consequences.
So, being conscious about the diet, exercise, and training of your puppy is very vital. It promotes the happier and healthier lifespan of your Golden Retriever.
Thus, I suggest you provide essential nutrients and adequate training for your Golden Retriever to live a peaceful life with them.
I hope the above ideas and methods were helpful for you.
How To Get Your Golden Retriever To Stop Being Aggressive
It can be difficult to stop dog aggression once it starts but there are a number of things that you can do that I’ll mention below.
Teach your dog to positively associate other dogs with rewards
One option would be to train it to have positive associations with other dogs by making use of positive association training. This is where you reward your Golden Retriever when other dogs are around and it is being well behaved causing it to have positive feelings towards being around other dogs.
One way to do this is to try the “open bar” technique where you give your Golden Retriever positive attention and a treat when you see other dogs on a walk. The positive attention and treat should stop when the other dog goes away. It should also stop if it starts being aggressive. The treat should also be a special treat that you only give to your Golden Retriever when other dogs are around.
You can also try “shaping” which is where you reward your Golden Retriever for making small steps towards being well behaved. You would start by rewarding it for not reacting when it sees other dogs and then you would gradually build up to rewarding it for playing with other dogs.
When you’re doing this you will want to reward your Golden Retriever for being well behaved before it has a chance to become aggressive so avoid making large jumps in what you ask of it.
You can see more tips on this in the video below:
Try a “growl” class
Take it to vet or dog behaviorist