(Practical steps to take to prevent dog attacks)

The chances are, if you own a dog you will be in contact with other doggy friends – and unfortunately not all dogs get along well. Here are some practical steps you can take both at home and out and about to prevent your dog from attacking another.

If considering a new route to take, walk the route without your dog first and monitor the route for things such as inadequate fencing, or unconfined dogs (dogs that are not contained within their yards).

Avoid taking your dog for a walk in streets where fencing is inadequate or where dogs are not contained within their yards.

Refrain from giving dog treats in the presence of another dog – it can lead to territorial behavior or a fight over the treat.

When out and about or even at the dog park, avoid taking and using toys from home. These toys have your dog’s scent on them and they’re bound to have an attachment to these toys, therefore you may find your dog experiencing territorial behaviour towards these toys when away from the house.

Preventing overstimulation while out and about can be difficult, but it’s not necessarily altogether impractical. For example, if you notice a loud barking dog nearby, a lot of people, noise such as music or the sound of children playing – steer your dog in the other direction. Exposing your dog to these sounds help them to deal with the stimulation eventually – talk to your vet about training your pet in these situations.

Most larger dogs do not see smaller dogs as dogs. Avoid mixing dogs of different sizes, especially with unfamiliar dogs (eg. at dog parks) as this could cause a dog fight.

Learn how to approach a dog safely. Read more about how to safely approach a dog here.

Always watch your dog’s body language and monitor play with other dogs and recall them before it reaches a point where they are uncomfortable/overstimulated.