By Cindy Russell

House Calls

For thousands of years, humans and dogs have formed supportive, beneficial and emotional bonds. Although dogs offer their human guardians unconditional love and companionship, one has to remember that they’re not always friendly to strangers, especially children.

Each year, dogs bite approximately 4.7 million Americans. Children are the most common victims, and they usually suffer bites on the face. Although most of the injuries I’ve seen have been repairable in the emergency room and heal well, serious injuries can occur. There’s no reason to be afraid of dogs, but people should use common sense and learn how to avoid problems.

Any dog is capable of biting under the right circumstances. Dogs bite for a variety of reasons: being injured, fearful, aggressive and simply because they are old. Some dogs have a low tolerance for children, especially children who hit or harass them. These types of actions provoke fear and biting.

I’ve seen children bitten by breeds considered to be very tolerant, such as retrievers and cocker spaniels, as well as by more independent breeds including Akitas, German shepherds, Rottweilers, pit bulls, huskies, Doberman pinschers, chows, Great Danes and Saint Bernards. I’ve also seen owners bitten by pets who have become moodier in their old age.

To enjoy canine companions while avoiding the possibility of anyone getting bitten, teach children these simple rules:

Ask the owner before petting a dog, no matter how “cute” the dog is. Not all dogs are friendly;

Never approach an unfamiliar dog unless the owner is there;

Never run from or scream at a dog;

Never put your face near a dog’s face. If anything, approach the dog with your hand under its chin, not on top of its head. The latter scares many dogs;

Be “still like a tree” when an unfamiliar dog comes up to you;

If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball and stay still;

Don’t look a dog straight in the eye;

Don’t disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies;

If a dog looks scared (tail between its legs, ears back), don’t approach it;

Don’t play with a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.

Some suggestions for owners to prevent dog bites:

If you’re raising a puppy, stop biting/nipping early. If your dog growls, nips or bites in an unfriendly manner, seek help from a professional trainer;

Obedience-train your dog;

Socialize your dog and make it part of the family. Unsocialized dogs who are left alone in the yard are more likely to bite. It can also be helpful to socialize your dog with other dogs;

Don’t play aggressive games/tug of war with dogs, especially those prone to biting;

Use a “friendly lead/muzzle” if you’re concerned about your dog’s behavior/socialization skills with people or other dogs, or just don’t expose your pet to children;

Spay/neuter your dog;

Never leave infants or children alone with any dog;

Keep your dog healthy. An unnoticed injury can make a dog aggressive.

By following these simple tips, parents and pet owners can avoid many potential dog bites - helping our canine friends keep true to their title of man’s best friend.

Dr. Cindy Russell is a plastic surgeon at the Camino Medical Group, a division of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, in Sunnyvale.

The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provide this monthly column.