Educating Children Reduces Risky Deportment Around Dogs

Dog security educational activity for children works, according to a systematic review of existing research.

By Zazie Todd, PhD

The CDC estimates that 4.5 meg Americans are bitten past times a Canis familiaris every year. Children are at high risk, together with bites to children are oft to a greater extent than severe than those to adults. Bites to the caput together with cervix are to a greater extent than mutual than for adults because children are smaller.

When immature children are bitten past times a dog, it is typically indoors together with past times a Canis familiaris they know or alive with, oft when the kid approaches a Canis familiaris that is lying downwards or stationary.

The best ways to learn children nigh dogs are investigated inwards a systematic review of the literature past times Jiabin Shen (University of Alabama at Birmingham) et al.

The review focussed on cognitive together with behavioural interventions aimed at children (such every bit how to deport some dogs), rather than management interventions aimed at parents (such every bit close supervision of dogs together with children).

Some of the interventions involved showing videos to children or using reckoner programs, spell others involved a existent Canis familiaris for children to interact with. They took house inwards a multifariousness of settings including the children's classroom, hospitals, together with academy laboratories.

“The results showed that interventions convey a moderate outcome on improving children’s security cognition some dogs,” write the authors, “and a relatively large outcome on promoting condom interactions betwixt children together with dogs. Video-based interventions were most effective inwards the improvement of security knowledge, spell instruction with alive dogs was most effective inwards increasing children’s condom behaviours with dogs.”

The behavioural measures differed from written report to study, only included visits to emergency because of a Canis familiaris bite, whether or non the kid went to pat an unfamiliar dog, part plays, together with acting out deportment inwards a dolls house. Knowledge was also assessed differently inwards each study, only typically included yes/no questions nigh Canis familiaris safety, oft with pictures.

It’s interesting that effects on children’s deportment were larger than those for children’s knowledge. This is a surprising finding; inwards the champaign of wellness promotion, it’s to a greater extent than mutual that people know they bespeak to alter only don’t genuinely alter their behaviour. For example, people mightiness know smoking is bad for them only non orbit upward smoking.

Only some of the studies looked at deportment changes, together with the authors country these studies tended to last improve designed, together with potentially also had improve interventions. But it could also last that it’s easier to learn immature children appropriate deportment some dogs rather than knowledge.

The authors reviewed studies of Canis familiaris seize with teeth prevention together with selected those that met sure enough character criteria, including having a command grouping together with beingness specifically focussed on Canis familiaris seize with teeth prevention with 0 – eighteen twelvemonth olds. 12 papers were included inwards the concluding review, together with nine inwards the statistical meta-analysis.

The studies included inwards the review took house inwards the US, UK, Canada, Australia, together with ane inwards China. The authors country programs developed inwards the West are all the same relevant to other countries to some extent, inwards that all children become through the same developmental stages. Therefore programs designed to learn age-appropriate cognition volition all the same last useful.

However, spell the master copy guide chances inwards the West is pet dogs, inwards developing countries street dogs are the to a greater extent than mutual drive of bites. This is peculiarly serious because of the guide chances of rabies. So adaptations to the programs to reverberate the origin of guide chances would last necessary.

Although the newspaper did non await at management interventions (such every bit fencing), the authors recognize these are also an of import constituent inwards preventing Canis familiaris bites. In the instance of (incredibly rare) fatal Canis familiaris attacks at that spot are oft multiple preventable contributing factors, including the isolation, mismanagement together with abuse of dogs.

The authors also highlight a work with the “poor character of evidence inwards this field.” They country this is a full general work inwards pediatric injury prevention. Other meta-analyses inwards the champaign of human-animal interaction convey also highlighted problems with the character of evidence,  including on dog walking behaviour together with the role of animal-assisted therapy to aid adolescents with psychiatric problems. As the champaign grows, hopefully nosotros tin strength out await frontwards to to a greater extent than high character research.

The skilful tidings is the interventions did improve children’s interactions with dogs. Earlier travel has establish parents would welcome to a greater extent than educational activity on Canis familiaris security for children  This written report shows that wider availability of educational activity for children on how to deport some dogs would last a really skilful thing.

There’s some useful advice on preventing Canis familiaris bites at stopthe77.com.


Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop spider web log , where she writes nigh everything from preparation methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today together with has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, ane dog, together with ii cats.

Useful links:

• Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
• Get merch  
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Reference
Shen, J., Rouse, J., Godbole, M., Wells, H., Boppana, S., & Schwebel, D. (2016). Systematic Review: Interventions to Educate Children About Dog Safety together with Prevent Pediatric Dog-Bite Injuries: H5N1 Meta-Analytic Review Journal of Pediatric Psychology DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv164
Photo: Vasil Syniuk (top) together with Grezova Olga (Shutterstock.com).

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Dog Seize Amongst Teeth Strength: It's Non What Yous Think

Scientists tracked downwardly the prove for a mutual contestation nigh seize alongside teeth strength inwards dogs – in addition to constitute it lacking.

By Zazie Todd, PhD

Have you lot always read comments nigh the strength of a dog’s jaw when it bites? These statements are oft made inwards relation to certainly types of dog, similar pit bulls. Maybe some people withdraw maintain it equally fact. But what if it’s non true?

H5N1 recent paper past times doc Gary Patronek (Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University) et al traced citations inwards the literature in addition to went dorsum to the master sources to investigate the truth of the published statements. They say they chose the literature on the strength alongside which a Canis familiaris tin seize alongside teeth for several reasons, including that this is a salient figure that jumps out at people in addition to is remembered, in addition to that the literature was large plenty in addition to slow to assess for accuracy.

They picked a topic on which people withdraw maintain been sceptical for some time. Writing on his spider web log inwards 2010, Stanley Coren PhD said,

“Let’s lay these numbers into a meaningful context. Imagine a seize alongside teeth forcefulness of 2000 pounds. To hit this, suppose that nosotros had a dog’s jaw in addition to wanted to press the upper percentage downwardly alongside this force, it would require our putting a pressure level equivalent to the weight of a subcompact automobile (like a smaller Toyota or Hyundai) on the hand jaw. That only did non brand sense.” 

In fact a Smart Fortwo weighs 1808 lbs, in addition to a Mitsubishi Mirage is 1,973lbs. So those are the cars nosotros tin think of if we’re going to role doc Coren’s analogy.

Patronek et al wanted to know what the prove is for this. They looked at papers from 1969 – 2009, in addition to 2 courtroom cases, that referred to canine seize alongside teeth strength. They went through the literature to draw the statements dorsum to the origin. So what did they find?

“We tracked each citation to 1 of seven master sources,” they write, “and did non honor verifiable prove (or information obtained from a controlled experiment) nigh seize alongside teeth forcefulness inwards whatever of the articles. In 2 of the master sources, statements nigh seize alongside teeth forcefulness were found, but at that topographic point were neither information nor a citation to back upwardly those statements. In 4 other master sources, none contained whatever contestation or information nigh seize alongside teeth force, despite existence cited past times other scientific articles equally though they had. The concluding master source was non a scientific article at all, but a paper article that in i lawsuit again provided no source for the information presented.”  [references omitted for ease of reading – run into link below]

In other words, at that topographic point is no prove for the contestation that a pit bull, or whatever other sort of dog, has a seize alongside teeth strength of 1800 or fifty-fifty 2000 PSI.

For scientists, this is a reminder to last careful to verify sources. Patronek et al are non suggesting anyone has deliberately misled – rather, that mistakes withdraw maintain been made, in addition to over successive papers past times dissimilar authors, they withdraw maintain been amplified. These days, alongside to a greater extent than articles available electronically, it is easier than always to verify master sources (although no academy library volition withdraw maintain everything).

H5N1 item work is what they telephone outcry upwardly ‘daisy-chaining’ – basically the role of secondary sources (rather than the original) in addition to non existence clear when information is from the introduction department rather than actual results.

At other times, however, they say it’s difficult to know why these mistakes occurred.

“Four articles specifically claim that the seize alongside teeth forcefulness of a “pit bull” type Canis familiaris tin last equally much equally 1,800 pounds per foursquare inch. There is non a unmarried master source reporting a Result that substantiates this claim. And what are nosotros to brand of cases where a source that literally did non incorporate whatever information nigh seize alongside teeth forcefulness was cited.” [references omitted]

I honor it interesting that the 4 articles referring to a pit bull seize alongside teeth strength of 1,800 PSI (and indeed almost all of the papers making comments nigh seize alongside teeth strength) are from the medical literature, non from journals on creature behaviour or biology.

Patronek et al signal out at that topographic point are consequences to this, non precisely for the scientific literature but also existent life (as inwards the courtroom cases they studied).

More generally, nosotros tin reckon what if people are afraid of certainly dogs because they’ve been erroneously told nigh this supposed enormous seize alongside teeth strength? What if people advert this information inwards back upwardly of breed specific legislation, fifty-fifty though it's wrong?

Preventing Canis familiaris bites is complicated. Breed specific legislation isn't the answer because whatever Canis familiaris tin bite. Fortunately fatal Canis familiaris attacks are incredibly rare in addition to involve many factors that could potentially last prevented. Programmes to educate children nigh Canis familiaris bites work to trim down risky behaviour around dogs. Better instruction for adults on dogs in addition to canine behaviour tin assist too. But approaches to dog seize alongside teeth prevention also necessitate to withdraw maintain into line of piece of work concern human relationship that many people think ‘it won’t occur to me’ in addition to and hence may non pay attending to information nigh dogs inwards general, or to their dog’s behaviour inwards the moment.

Patronek et al’s paper shows a commonly-held belief nigh certainly types of Canis familiaris is wrong. Flawed inquiry write-ups withdraw maintain given pit bulls in addition to other dogs a bad name, in addition to it’s of import to gear upwardly the tape straight.

The paper is opened upwardly access in addition to you lot tin read it at the link below. There is a handy diagram if you lot desire to follow the faulty references back.



Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop spider web log , where she writes nigh everything from preparation methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today in addition to has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, alongside her husband, i dog, in addition to 2 cats.

Useful links:

• Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
• Get merch  
• Support me on Ko-fi
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This page contains affiliate links.

Reference
Patronek, G., Bradley, J., & Cleary, D. (2016). Who is minding the bibliography? Daisy chaining, dropped leads, in addition to other bad conduct using examples from the Canis familiaris seize alongside teeth literature Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications in addition to Research, 14, 17-19 DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2016.06.004
Photos: Matthew Lyon (top) in addition to Zuzule (both Shutterstock.com)

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Breed Specific Legislation Had No Resultant On Canis Familiaris Bites Inward Odense, Denmark

In 2010, Kingdom of Denmark banned thirteen breeds of dog. It made no divergence to hospitalizations for domestic dog bites.

Photo: sanjagrujic/Shutterstock

By Zazie Todd, PhD

One approach that some countries or municipalities conduct maintain to test to trim down injuries from domestic dog bites is to ban for certain breeds, known every bit Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 novel report past times Dr. Finn Nilson  (Karlstad University) et al investigates the effects of BSL inwards Denmark’s third-largest city, Odense. The results demo that it had no final result on hospitalizations for domestic dog bites.

In 2010, Kingdom of Denmark banned the ownership, breeding too import of thirteen breeds of dog, including the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero too American Bulldog.

Two of those breeds, the Pitbull Terrier too the Tosa Inu, had to live on euthanized.

Any existing pets of the remaining eleven breeds could live on kept, but they had to live on muzzled too leashed inwards public.

physician Finn Nilson told me inwards an email,

“The findings inwards our article largely back upward previous studies on the dependent area of whether banning for certain breeds of domestic dog volition Pb to less individuals requiring emergency attention for domestic dog bites. In similarity to other studies nosotros tin demo that banning for certain breeds inwards Kingdom of Denmark did non trim down the number of domestic dog bites beingness seen at a large regional hospital. Due to the Danish ban beingness slightly dissimilar to previous bans, nosotros could purpose considerably to a greater extent than advanced methods. Put simply, nosotros could exam both the long-term final result of banning for certain breeds every bit good every bit the short-term legislation on muzzles inwards world spaces on the same breeds. Neither seem to conduct maintain an effect. The results reiterate the occupation of identifying so-called unsafe breeds inwards the attempts to trim down domestic dog bites.”

The report looked at information on people visiting the emergency portion inwards Odense from 1st Jan 2002 too 31st June 2015. During this time, at that topographic point were 2622 domestic dog seize amongst teeth injuries.

There are some problems amongst only looking at the number of domestic dog bites earlier too afterward a ban. For 1 thing, inwards cases similar this where some breeds are euthanized, the full number of dogs has gone down, which agency whatever alter could only live on because at that topographic point are fewer dogs overall.

As well, it is possible at that topographic point would live on other changes over the fourth dimension period. One such alter mentioned inwards the newspaper is that the number of injuries tends to become downward anyway (although I complaint that this is non ever the illustration – inwards the UK, which likewise has BSL, hospitalizations for domestic dog bites conduct maintain gone up).

The scientists used some sophisticated statistical techniques, called Monte Carlo models, to teach circular these issues.

And they paid attending to whether domestic dog bites happened inwards world or private spaces.

Photo: Grigorita Ko/Shutterstock

Since eleven of the banned breeds had to live on muzzled too leashed inwards public, you lot would aspect an immediate divergence inwards world domestic dog bites if BSL was effective. Whereas you lot would aspect a to a greater extent than gradual divergence inwards domestic dog bites inwards private spaces every bit the number of pet dogs of these breeds slow went down.

But that’s non what happened.

The results showed no final result of Breed Specific Legislation on hospitalizations for domestic dog bites.

They did demo something else really interesting: Of the 2622 domestic dog bites, 874 occurred inwards world spaces. In other words, the bulk of domestic dog seize amongst teeth injuries (67%) occurred inwards a private infinite such every bit someone’s home.

This shows that programs to trim down domestic dog bites remove to target private places, non exactly focus on what happens inwards public.

"Put simply, nosotros could exam both the long-term final result of banning for certain breeds every bit good every bit the short-term legislation on muzzles inwards world spaces on the same breeds. Neither seem to conduct maintain an effect."

One limitation to the query is that it solely considers information for 4.5 years afterward the introduction of BSL. However, the legislation would conduct maintain been expected to conduct maintain an final result inwards this time, which was non found.

This report joins a number of others inwards finding that Breed Specific Legislation does non work. If you lot desire to know more, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a summary of the available query on BSL.

Unfortunately BSL agency that well-behaved dogs conduct maintain to live on muzzled or euthanized when they conduct maintain non done anything wrong.

The choice to BSL is to encourage responsible domestic dog ownership too enforce it amongst rigid laws or bylaws.

Dog bites are a complex problem, too this report adds to the bear witness that breed specific legislation is non the solution. As well, it shows that nosotros remove to pay attending to the context inwards which bites occur.


The newspaper is opened upward access too you lot tin read it via the link below.

This page contains affiliate links.

Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop spider web log , where she writes nearly everything from preparation methods to the human-canine relationship. She likewise writes a column for Psychology Today too has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, amongst her husband, 1 dog, too 2 cats.

Useful links:

• Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
• Get merch  
• Support me on Ko-fi
• Visit my Amazon store

You mightiness likewise like: Stereotypes too breeds of dog and the effects of possessor sense too housing on Argentine Dogos.

Reference
Nilson, F., Damsager, J., Lauritsen, J., & Bonander, C. (2018). The final result of breed-specific domestic dog legislation on infirmary treated domestic dog bites inwards Odense, Denmark—A fourth dimension serial intervention study. PLoS one, 13(12), e0208393. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208393

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Most Serious Domestic Dog Bites Locomote On At Home, As Well As No Breed Grouping Tin Grade The Sack Survive Blamed

A study of domestic dog bites inward Calgary finds no breed grouping tin move singled out for serious bites, together with older adults may move at to a greater extent than conduct a chance than previously thought.

Photo: Christian Mueller/Shutterstock

By Zazie Todd, PhD

Dog bites are a serious world wellness problem. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 4.7 i one 1000 thousand Americans are bitten every twelvemonth together with 800,000 require medical treatment. New query from Dr. Niamh Caffrey together with colleagues (University of Calgary), published inward Animals, investigates all domestic dog bites inward Calgary betwixt 2012 together with 2017. What makes this study unique is the grade of especial together with reliability of the information compared to most studies of domestic dog bites.

The results present that the people most at conduct a chance of domestic dog bites are children, youth, together with older adults (aged threescore or above). While the increased conduct a chance for children together with youth is every bit expected, the higher conduct a chance for older adults may come upward every bit a surprise. As well, the query shows no deviation betwixt breed groups inward price of serious bites.

medico Caffrey, starting fourth dimension writer of the study, told me inward an email,

“I cry back the fundamental message to accept from our study is that everyone needs to move aware of the alert signs that a domestic dog may bite. With dogs such an of import component of our society, nosotros all postulate to learn improve at agreement domestic dog behaviour. If nosotros tin educate both domestic dog owners together with the full general world inward how to interact amongst dogs to a greater extent than safely thus nosotros could trim down or preclude bites.”

The metropolis of Calgary has animal command bylaws based on responsible domestic dog ownership. Dogs inward Calgary must move licensed together with conduct keep permanent identification, together with spay/neuter of pets together with regular veterinarian visits are encouraged. Any domestic dog seize amongst teeth incidents must move reported, together with brute command officers volition piece of occupation amongst the dog’s possessor to endeavor to preclude futurity incidents. As well, funds from licensing are used to render pedagogy programs to schools.

The metropolis records domestic dog bites according to a modified Dunbar seize amongst teeth scale (see below), together with categorizes them into 3 levels. ‘Chases’ are bites on grade 1 or 2, which tin move considered depression severity every bit they involve no punctures to the peel although at that topographic point may move some bruising. It is probable at that topographic point are to a greater extent than depression severity bites than are reported to the city, given that medical attending is non needed.

Level 3 bites are medium severity together with involve 1-3 punctures from a unmarried bite, amongst no shaking or tearing. High severity bites comprise levels 3.5 (multiple grade 3 bites) through to grade v (multiple bites inward which the domestic dog held on and/or shook their caput from side to side).

The modified Dunbar seize amongst teeth scale used inward Calgary. Reproduced from Caffrey et al (2019) nether Creative Commons licence.

The analysis looked at 2165 domestic dog seize amongst teeth incidents, of which 51% were depression severity, 35% medium severity, together with 13.5% were high severity. These incidents involved 1,873 dogs, together with 54 of those dogs were afterward euthanized. The proficient tidings is that inward the timescale of the study, the number of severe domestic dog bites fell.

Because of the large number of breeds together with mixed-breeds, dogs were classified according to breed group. No especial breed grouping was to a greater extent than probable to seize amongst teeth than whatever other (see graph below). For all of the breed groups, depression together with medium severity bites were much to a greater extent than mutual than high severity bites.

Bites of low, medium, together with high severity past times breed group. No especial breed grouping tin move singled out every bit causing to a greater extent than bites. Image reproduced from Caffrey et al (2019) nether Creative Commons licence.

The variety of seize amongst teeth that occurred inward world places was most oft of depression severity. Medium together with high severity bites were to a greater extent than probable to occur inward the domicile or on the owner’s property, or at an off-leash domestic dog park. The finding that high severity bites are most mutual inward the owner’s domicile is inward business amongst previous research. Children, youth, together with older adults were to a greater extent than probable to move bitten than adults.

Medium together with high severity bites were to a greater extent than mutual from manlike individual dogs (whether neutered or not). Dogs aged 3 or to a greater extent than were to a greater extent than probable to bite, although it is difficult to assess the effects of historic stream every bit the metropolis uses wide historic stream groupings rather than the actual historic stream of the dog.

Even depression severity bites tin behave on people profoundly, including how rubber they experience when out together with nearly inward public. The researchers signal out that preventing depression severity bites is an of import component of whatever domestic dog seize amongst teeth prevention program. As well, responding to this variety of seize amongst teeth is an chance to preclude futurity bites, for trial past times teaching dogs to similar strangers.

These results present that domestic dog seize amongst teeth prevention needs to move aimed at all historic stream groups. They too present the importance of closed supervision of dogs amongst children, fifty-fifty when the domestic dog is familiar. Other query has constitute that many people misinterpret dogs’ trunk linguistic communication closed to children which underlines the postulate for to a greater extent than education. Learning how to recognize signs of fright inward dogs,  together with to laissez passer them the socialize puppies during the sensitive period, something which many domestic dog owners don’t seem to create out plenty of. 

Calgary’s approach to domestic dog seize amongst teeth prevention is internationally known every bit an option to breed specific legislation. BSL does non seem to trim down domestic dog bites (see e.g. breed specific legislation had no number on domestic dog bites inward Odense, Denmark). The of import message is that whatever domestic dog tin bite.

The run of the Dunbar seize amongst teeth scale inward this study is especially helpful, every bit it provides to a greater extent than information nearly the risks together with shows the most serious bites tend to hap at home. While everyone needs to know nearly preventing domestic dog bites, it seems that targeting parents (e.g. at medical services, after schoolhouse clubs) every bit good every bit seniors would brand the biggest difference. This is valuable information because it way messages tin move targeted to those groups most at risk.

The sum newspaper is opened upward access together with tin move read at the link below.



This page contains affiliate links.

Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes nearly everything from grooming methods to the human-canine relationship. She too writes a column for Psychology Today together with has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inward 2017. Todd lives inward Maple Ridge, BC, amongst her husband, i dog, together with 2 cats.

Useful links:

• Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
• Get merch  
• Support me on Ko-fi
• Visit my Amazon store

You mightiness too like: Preventing domestic dog bites inward children together with a novel approach to domestic dog seize amongst teeth prevention.

Reference
Caffrey, N., Rock, M., Schmidtz, O., Anderson, D., Parkinson, M., & Checkley, S. L. (2019). Insights nearly the epidemiology of domestic dog bites inward a Canadian metropolis using a domestic dog aggression scale together with administrative data. Animals, 9(6), 324. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9060324

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