How to Recognize Signs of Fear in Dogs
When they’re well-adjusted and happy, dogs can be faithful and friendly companions. They can be fun to interact with and provide great joy. However, there are many dogs that have difficulty being social because they are afraid of people or at least afraid of strangers. These dogs can be dangerous to people and especially to children who might not recognize when fear might lead to a dog bite attack.
Why It’s Important to Recognize Signs of Fear
Some dogs will bite out of aggression. They are likely to attack, and you need to know how to deal with an aggressive dog. However, some dogs will bite out of fear. Instead of attacking, the dog is biting defensively. A dog perceives a threat and responds by lashing out. Recognizing a fearful dog can help you avoid dog bite attacks.
The challenge with a fearful dog is that some of the signs of fear might look like signs of happiness. A fearful dog might look inviting if you don’t know what you’re seeing. This is especially true for children, who might see a fearful dog as cuter and less dangerous than other dogs, so they might approach it in a way that triggers a defensive bite. Plus, a normally friendly dog might turn fearful in situations where more children are around, such as a birthday party or barbecue.
Recognizing the signs of fear in a dog will not only help you avoid a fearful dog, but it will also help you tell your kids when a dog is dangerous.
Signs of Fear in Dogs
A fearful dog may show several signs that it’s afraid. Watch for:
- Avoidance – moving away from people
- Avoiding eye contact
- Hiding
- Pacing as if looking for an escape
- Flattened ears
- Cowering
- Wide eyes with the white showing
- Panting
- Yawning
- Lip licking
- Tail wagging stiffly
- Barking
- Whining
- Growling
- Not wanting a treat
If you look over this list, you can see how these signs of fear can lead to problems for children. Some signs of fear might be clear to us, such as flattened ears, avoidance, avoiding eye contact, and hiding.
However, children may only see the signs they want to see. Wide eyes and cowering can make a dog look cute and cartoony. Panting can make a dog look friendly. Children know that a wagging tail means a dog is happy, and they might not be able to tell the difference between a happy wag and a fearful one.
In addition, owners may sometimes try to manage fear in dogs with treats and may offer a child the opportunity to give one to the dog. Children can be aggressive in this situation, trying to force a dog to take the treat, which can lead to biting.
Once you identify fearful behavior in a dog, you need to respond quickly to help your child avoid a bite.
How to Deal with a Fearful Dog
First, don’t interact with dogs without their owner around. Teach children to avoid these dogs and to let adults know when there’s a strange dog loose in the neighborhood.
If a dog’s owner is around, let them know that the dog appears to be fearful, and that they should perhaps move it to a more confined area. This may not only help the dog to feel less fearful, but it will also isolate the dog from children and other guests who might be likely to be attacked.
If the owner won’t put the dog away, the best thing to do is ignore the dog and give it space. Don’t try to make a fearful dog interact with you. A fearful dog may calm down if ignored, and then may choose to approach you. If you speak to the dog or in the dog’s presence, use a calm, friendly tone.
Avoid threatening behaviors like sudden movements, looming over the dog, staring at the dog, or reaching your hands into the dog’s space. Also avoid loud, aggressive speaking.
A Dog Bite Attorney Can Help After a Dog Bite Attack
While it’s good for you to recognize a fearful dog and try to act appropriately, it is ultimately the dog owner’s responsibility to keep the dog from biting. When a dog does bite, the owner is 100% liable for injuries caused. They should pay for:
- Medical bills related to the dog bite attack, including cosmetic surgery if necessary
- Mobility aids needed after injury
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Counseling and other treatment for trauma after the dog bite
At Pushchak Law, Brian Pushchak has made dog bite cases a primary focus of his practice. This specialization gives him more knowledge and experience in holding dog owners responsible for the injuries their pets cause. He will work hard to get you the full compensation you are due under the law. You can see some of the results we’ve gotten for dog bite attack victims.
But choosing a dog bite attorney isn’t just about the money. You want someone who is genuinely looking out for your best interests. That’s where our unique Informed Decisions™ Approach makes a difference. We will start out by listening to your goals and priorities so we can help you make decisions about what factors matter most to you, such as getting a fast resolution or getting a larger settlement. Once we understand your goals, we will use our legal expertise to recommend the best strategy to achieve your desired outcome, but you are always in control of your case.
During the process, we will give you our personal contact details and make ourselves available if you have any questions or concerns about your case. Plus, we work on a contingency basis: you only pay our fees if we win your case.
To learn how we can help you get compensation after a dog bite attack, please call or use our online form today to request a free initial consultation. Pushchak Law serves clients in Denver and the surrounding areas of Colorado.
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