Dogs are always super sweet and loves playing with children.
They take care of them, enjoy with them, and share a bond that we rarely see with other animals. But during this pandemic, dog biting in children spiked up to abnormal levels.
First, we need to understand that dogs are not wild creatures and perfect as pets after training. They don’t attack the owner’s family and rather protect them.
But due to this sudden change in the world, children is spending more time in the house than usual.
According to Washington Post, America has seen a massive surge in the adoption of pandemic dogs in the Covid-19. More and more people have found their companion paw partner in the time of loneliness.
However, this paw companionship is causing dog owners some troubles.
Let’s delve into one of the major pandemic problems: Dog Bites In Children
What Is Causing Dog Bites In Children Amid Covid-19 Pandemic?
The thing with pandemic dogs is that most of them are not adequately trained.
And on top of it, people change their environments and want the dogs to settle with them.
So, when the pandemic dogs enter the house, they are not super friendly with children and other house members. And children are innocent as well; they try to play with the dogs, but that makes the dogs anxious, and they bite them to show resistance.
Reasons Dog Bites In Children Has Surged In Coronavirus
Well, there can be many reasons for this global issue, starting from aggressive dog behavior to behavioral issues, it varies from breed to breed. Some dog owners complained of anxiety and stress in dogs while some say they seek extra attention.
Here are some possible reasons behind this spike:
Increased Children-Dog Interaction
The main reason for increased dog bites in kids is the enhanced interaction between the two. And that is too much for dogs even though they like humans.
Everything needs to be within the limit, and when, the engagement increases between your dog and children, the dog becomes uncomfortable and starts biting and scratching.
Reduced Adult Supervision
Adult supervision has reduced in the homes because everybody is together and no one’s going out. So, when children and dogs are playing, parents think they are safe but they are not.
Because children do not know where to stop, and that leads to incidents like dog biting, dog scratching in children. It’s important to supervise your dog from time to time, observe any behavioral changes and take adequate action.
Emotional Contagion in Dogs
Dogs are very sensitive animals and they get overwhelmed and anxious quite easily. In that case, they tend to bite and show aggression but you need to understand that they are scared inside.
The best way to deal with this is to train them for anxiety and stress to get comfortable for these kinds of scenarios.
How Should a Parent Respond if their Child is Bitten by a Dog?
Even though the dog biting situation is getting too common, you can still protect your children by making them aware of the risk of being extra friendly with dogs.
And you have to be with your kids when they are near your pet dog.
But if your kid gets bitten by your dog when you’re not there, rush to the hospital. And if the bleeding is too much, try to control it first by cleaning the wound and covering it up.
Make sure, your pet is fully vaccinated while living with you and your family.
What Can Dog Owners Do To Prevent Their Dogs From Harming A Person?
The only answer to this question is suitable training and constant exposure of dogs to humans and other animals. You need to spend time with your dog and play with him to make him feel comfortable.
And never appreciate the enraged or hyperactivity behavior of your dogs; that helps the most.
5 Ways To Prevent Dog Biting In Children
- Socialize your puppy with children and other humans
- Start behavioral training of your dog
- Keep them engaged with toys and other fun stuff
- Teach your children to learn dog commands
- Make sure your dog is fully vaccinated
Final Thoughts
Here we will end our article about spiked-up dog bites in children during the pandemic. We hope you will take advantage of our tips and protect your children and dogs from unwanted incidents.
Let us know in the comments section if you’re also seeing pandemic dog bites and the steps you’re taking to prevent them.
***All images used in this article are right of the respective owners. We don’t claim any copyright on these images.
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