Staying Safe around Dogs & Reducing the Risk of Dog Related - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

International Training Programme Staying Safe around Dogs & Reducing the Risk of Dog Related Injuries

Canine Behaviour & Research Department

Objectives & Learning Outcomes

• Discuss why and which types of dogs are likely to bite
• Reducing Risks

― Grading of Dogs ― Interacting with Dogs ― Feeding Dogs ― Entering & Leaving Kennels ― Handling ― Taking Dogs Out

• Equipment

― Including handling aggressive or fearful dogs

• Types of Bites (and when and how to act)

Why?

• Our aim at Dogs Trust is to create

a standard way of working which keep staff, volunteers, the public and other dogs safe

• Make sure everyone is aware of

the potential risks when handling dogs everyday or using equipment

• Identify when a dogs behaviour

could affect your safety

• Highlight any training needs to

help identify these issues.

Why?

Why is a dog likely to bite and which types of dogs are these likely to be? Have you seen or experienced this?

?

Why and which types?

• Any dog has the potential to bite
• Understanding the context in which the

bite has happened will help us to understand it better

― Is the dog fearful/ anxious/ frustrated? ― Is it medical or pain related? ― Was it over a resource? ― Has the dog got a history of biting in the past? ― Was it in response to training, handling, or a piece of equipment?

• How we act or behave around the dog

can tell us a lot more about why the bite might have happened

Reducing Risks – Grading of Dogs

• All dogs in Dogs Trust centres are graded

according to the following grading system:

― Grade 1 (WHITE): safe to be handled by all members

• f staff and volunteers.

― Grade 2 (AMBER): safe to be handled by named members of staff. There may be some minor handling problems and some control measures may have to be put in place. ― Grade 3 (RED): dog to be handled only by named members of staff that have received training to cope with the problems shown.

What affects behaviour?

Species behaviour Previous experiences Current environment Moods, emotions and motivations Medical problems

Current environment

• Familiar or unfamiliar?
• Does it meet the dog’s

needs?

• Is it a stressful

environment for the dog?

• Sensory abilities

― sensory overload?

• Influence of human

behaviour

What affects behaviour?

Current environment

• Recent events
• Trigger stacking:

― Dogs have thresholds for behaviours ― If a dog is highly aroused they can be more reactive (meaning something they would normally hardly react to may push them over the edge’) ― If multiple events are present at the same time, this may have the same effect – causing them to react more strongly (Overall, 2013)

What affects behaviour?

Escalation

• We need to be aware of the

subtle, low level signals from the dog

• When a dogs choices are

removed or they are unable to avoid a stressful or frightening situation their options are reduced

• Consider the environment the

dog is in

What affects behaviour?

Moods

• Just like us, dogs experience mood states
• Those in a more negative mood state are

likely to respond more negatively to things and also for those in a positive state (Mendl et

al, 2010)

• This can impact on how a dog may view

things longer-term in the future

Emotions

• Dogs experience many similar

emotions to us

― Fear ― Frustration ― Interest in and engagement with the environment ― Play with social partners

• These can impact on how a dog

behaves in any given situation

What affects behaviour?

Motivations

• Can have internal and external

motivations

― Internal: hunger, thirst ― External: in response to an object or kennel mate

• What is the dog wanting to achieve?

― To gain access to something they want ― To increase distance from something they find threatening

What affects behaviour?

Moods, emotions and motivations

What affects behaviour?

What affects behaviour?

Medical problems

• Pain: “An unpleasant (sensory and emotional) experience associated

with actual or potential tissue damage” (IASP, 1979)

• Risk of biting increases with pain / disease
• Side effects of medication can also affect behaviour

When is it safe to interact?

Holistic approach

• Stop! Assess the whole situation!
• What is your aim/purpose of

interacting with the dog?

― Is it necessary? ― For a specific task? ― For your own pleasure? ― A new person the dog doesn’t know?

• Will the interaction benefit the dog?

The whole picture

When is it safe to interact?

Which of these dogs would you approach?

When is it safe to interact?

What about these two?

When is it safe to interact?

Be rabies aware!

• What are the signs of rabies? (Bowen-Davies and Lowings, 2000)
• Most people highlight aggression as seen in the “furious” form
• The “dumb” form is more common in dogs:

― Appear quieter ― Apparent loss of fear – do not, or cannot, move away

• Signs in later stages of either form:

― Generalised paralysis so can appear lame or ataxic ― Respiratory distress ― Hypersalivation ― Protrusion of third eyelids and staring

• Best practice: do not approach any dogs that appear quiet in a rabies

prevalent area!

When is it safe to interact?

How to interact appropriately

Our body language

“We’ve been told many times that you should greet a dog by letting him sniff your hand, but in reality, the best way to greet is to stay outside of the dog’s personal bubble and let the dog approach you at his own rate.” Dr Sophia Yin (2011)

To touch or not to touch?

• Each dog is different
• Should be led by the dog, on their terms
• Offer an ‘open’ invitation:

― Move and speak calmly and slowly ― Approach in an arc where possible (think how dogs greet and circle each

• ther)

― Avoid direct eye contact ― Remain at a distance of roughly 1m and allow the dog to come to you ― Stand side on and stroke from the side with the back of your hand ― For smaller dogs if a chair is available you can sit on the chair and hold your hand down to your side.

How to interact appropriately

To touch or not to touch?…

• Beware breed stereotyping
• Preferences can be individual to

specific relationships

• Better to stick to ‘safe’ area of side of

the shoulder closest to you

• Keep interactions short - pause after a

few strokes with the back of your hand to see what the dog does

• Read the dog’s body language and

decide whether to proceed

How to interact appropriately

To touch or not to touch?

How to interact appropriately

To touch or not to touch?

How to interact appropriately

Health and Safety considerations

Always remember...

• If you are not confident about what a dog’s body language or

behaviour might be saying then do not interact with them!

• Only interact with a dog, or get involved if you feel comfortable

with the situation

• Only interact with a dog if you have sensible clothes on:

― Closed and non-slip shoes ― No dangling clothes or jewellery

Always remember…

Is there anything ‘wrong’ with this scenario then?

• Open toed shoes
• Loose floaty top
• Lanyard and necklace dangling
• Loose long hair

Health and Safety considerations

Reducing Risks – Feeding Dogs

• Consider the impact of the food

preparation around dogs

• Dogs will start to expect feeding as

soon as they hear activity in the kitchen

• Preparing food a long time before

feeding, or leaving full bowls outside

• f kennels is likely to cause

frustration

• It is important to plan feeding times to

avoid frustration as much as possible.

• Some dogs may show behavioural

signs around feeding that are not

• bvious at other times
• It is important to be alert to behaviour

when placing food bowls down and picking them up again after feeding

Reducing Risks – Feeding Dogs

• If the dog shows signs of aggression
• r if you feel worried about entering a

kennel after a dog has been fed, don’t enter

• Find a more experienced person or

someone the dog has a stronger relationship with

• Report any behavioural signs.
• Specific routines for the feeding of

individual dogs should be made clear to all staff or volunteers

Reducing Risks – Feeding Dogs

Reducing Risks – Entering & Leaving Kennels

• Entering and leaving kennels is a routine

part of the day for kennel staff

• Thinking carefully about how to

approach, enter and leave a kennel has important effects for both the welfare of dogs and staff safety

Reducing Risks – Before Entering a Kennel

Things to check:

• Is there more than one dog in the

kennel?

• Do you need assistance in handling
• ne of a pair or more
• Look at the records for the dog -

read any information regarding the behaviour or health requirements of the dog

• The grading of the dog. These can

change, so it is important to recheck

Reducing Risks – Before Entering a Kennel

• Seek advice from someone familiar

with the dog if you are unsure whether entering the kennel is appropriate

• Check whether activities for the dog

need to coincide with cleaning of the kennel to ensure smooth running of the block

Reducing Risks – Approaching the Kennel

• The general rule for interaction with

dogs is always: ASSESS BEFORE ACTION

• Stop and observe the behaviour of the

dog before opening the kennel door and entering. Remember to pause and ASSESS BEFORE ACTION.

• Where dogs show signs of

aggression, do not enter and seek help from someone experienced

Reducing Risks – Approaching the Kennel

• Wait to see if the behaviour

decreases before entering

• If the behaviour continues, seek

help

• On entering the kennel, allow the

dog to approach in their own time, and take some time to ASSESS BEFORE ACTION

• Greet the dog verbally and pause,

allowing at least 2 seconds to assess the reaction of the dog before deciding on appropriate handling

Reducing Risks – Leaving the Kennel

• Leave the kennel quietly and calmly
• nce the dog is relaxed and settled in

their kennel

• Spend a further few moments asking for

a sit or rewarding calm behaviour through the bars before calmly walking away

Reducing Risks – Leaving the Kennel

• If the is difficult to the kennel, add this

to the dog’s record

• Using food (e.g. throwing treats to the

back of the kennel) as a way of getting

• ut the kennel is not appropriate,

unless in an emergency situation.

― Dogs will rapidly learn to ignore this distraction, and this may make future behaviour modification programmes more difficult to implement

Handling of Dogs – Leads, Collars and Harnesses

• Before using equipment on a dog it is

important to consider:

― If it is suitable for the breed/type of dog ― If the size is correct ― If it fits comfortably and securely

• Any equipment used on a dog should

maintain or improve their welfare, and the safety of all other individuals must not be compromised

• Most dogs are used to having a collar

fitted and will accept handling for a lead to be attached.

• Movement of hands towards a collar,

holding or grabbing a collar, or attaching a lead can cause anxiety in a lot of dogs.

• Observe the behaviour of a dog when

approaching to attach a lead. Follow the general rule: ASSESS BEFORE ACTION. It is important to take some time to

• bserve what the dog is doing at each

step before proceeding.

• Think about how the dog is reacting

Handling of Dogs – Leads, Collars and Harnesses

Taking Dogs Out of Kennels

• If safe to do so, enter the kennel when the dog

has all four feet on the ground.

• Reward calm behaviour, or ask for ‘sit’ or ‘stand’

if the dog knows these behaviours and reward with a treat and / or attention.

• If the dog is calm, attach a lead or fit a harness

whilst still in the kennel

• Consider other dogs in the kennel/ around. You

may need to use barriers or shut dogs in to reduce arousal/stress.

• When walking ensure that you are alert to what

is going on around you and how the dog is responding.

Equipment for Handling Aggressive or Fearful dogs

• Equipment for use in emergency

situations needs to be stored in an easily accessible location

• Types of emergency equipment:

― Catchpoles ― Gauntlets or neoprene and / or protective sleeves ― Bite stick ― Shields ― Protective leg wear (e.g. horse riding ‘chaps’) ― A water hose ― Thick blankets ― CO2 fire extinguishers

Escalation - Recap

Most Common Bites - Handling

Most Common Bites – Dog Fights

Types of Bite - Ragging Bite

Ragging Bite - Method

Types of Bite - Snapping Bite

Types of Bite - Grab Bite

Grab Bite - Method

Types of Bite - Crushing Bite

Crushing Bite - Method

Crushing Bite - Method

Dog on Dog Bite & Victim - Method

Importance of appropriate interactions

So just to finish… Let’s have a quick quiz on dog bite statistics! 1. Most bites occur to:

a) The hands and feet b) The face, followed by the neck and limbs c) The face, neck and body d) The limbs, followed by the face and neck

2. In YouTube videos, the most common appeasement gestures preceding dog bites were:

a) Paw lifts and changes in ear carriage b) Lowered body posture and changes in ear carriage c) Paw lifts and lip licks d) Lowered body posture and yawning

?

Let’s have a quick quiz on dog bite statistics! 3. Severity of dog bites are greater when (select two answers):

a) The victim is not the owner b) The bite occurs in the dog’s home c) The bite occurs in a public place d) The dog knows the victim

4. In YouTube videos, the most common non-contact human actions preceding dog bites were:

a) Standing or leaning over the dog b) Yelling at the dog c) Holding a hand out towards the dog d) Turning their back on the dog

?

Importance of appropriate interactions

Study on dog bites in the Netherlands: Cornelissen and Hopster (2010) Study on YouTube videos of dog bites: Owczarczak-Garstecka et al (2018)

1. Most bites occur to: 2. In YouTube videos, the most common appeasement gestures preceding dog bites were: 3. Severity of bites are greater when: 4. In YouTube videos, the most common non-contact human actions preceding dog bites were:

?

Importance of appropriate interactions

Thank you for Listening! Any questions?