Home Safety Tips: Preventing Dog Bites

I'm sure that when we think of safety tips to keep our homes, families and friends safe we don't usually think of our best friend Fido. After all, dog is mans best friend right? How can he present a safety hazard? The answer is simple: dogs bite! Even the kindest, sweetest most lovable puppy might bite by accident or by provocation.

But we as responsible dog owners can help to prevent this from happening by observing some simple steps:

• Make sure you raised your dog to be social with both people and other pets.
• Don't put your dog in stressful or threatening situations, especially as he gets on in 
  years.
• Make sure you train your dog to obey basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and no.
• Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
• Teach young children to be careful around pets, including their own.
• Keep your dogs vaccinations up to date.
• Be alert and aware of how your dog is reacting to people and situations around him.

If your dog bites someone be responsible. It's not about whether it was your fault or not. It's about making sure the person and your dog are properly cared for. Your reaction can greatly affect the out come of the situation.

• Immediately restrain and confine your dog.
• Make sure the person is all right.
• Wash the wound with soap and water, add a bacterial cream and clean bandage.
• Seek medical assistance if needed.
• Make sure you have your dogs medical and vaccination records and license information available.

The most important thing to remember is that sometimes despite the best intentions or planning things go wrong and accidents happen.  

In addition I would like to add to very good point that was just bought to my attention from my AR friend John Mulkey, Housing Guru. For anyone who hasn't read his blog yet I've added the link so you can check it out.

If you are a dog owner who is trying to sell your home, please don't leave the dog in the house during showings. Doing so creates serious liability problems and is a turn-off for some buyers.

My friend Barbara Duncan has also bought up a couple of good points that I will now add to this post. If you don't know Barbara, I have included her link here so you can check out her bold. Here is Barabra's suggestion:
Don't leave their water dishes and food dishes out in plain view and it would sure help to repair any doggie damage before listing too.