Dogs, in America at least, truly are man’s best friend. It doesn’t matter if you are from the city or country, North or South, people are dog lovers. Often times dogs are treated as well as or better than humans by their owners. As with most things, there are exceptions. Some dogs are mistreated, underfed, or even purposely raised to be overly aggressive. When encountering a strange dog, you just can’t know its demeanor or past treatment, so caution must be taken. Every year, according to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over four and half million dog bites occur. The advice in this article can help prevent you from becoming a statistic by keeping you free from injury when faced by a strange dog.

One must be extremely cautious when there is a dog in the presence of small children. Kids can be hard to predict, and may move toward or tug on a dog which the dog may not understand. If you don’t know the dog personally, keep your children away from it. And never, ever leave a small child in a room alone with a dog, even if it is a dog you know.

Do not make quick movements, or try to run away if you are approached a unknown unleashed dog. Also avoid making any loud noises. Never yell at the dog. Looking the dog in the eyes should also be avoided. Look down. The act of staring down a dog can be viewed as a challenge to the dog, and that is often a challenge you won’t win. It might be helpful to toss an object away from yourself and from the dog. The dog may become curious and want to investigate which may give you the opportunity to get out of the situation.

Look for signs that a dog may be aggressive. Any time that a dog shows his teeth, or has hair standing on the back of the neck, that dog should be avoided. If the dog is free and approaching, the advice above applies here. You should never look the dog in the eye, should try and distract the dog, and calmly get away.

Do not bother a dog when it is eating or sleeping. The old saying about letting sleeping dogs lie is very good advice. Also do not disturb a dog that is caring for or nursing its puppies. Let a dog sniff your hands and get comfortable before you try to pet the dog. Dogs don’t like surprises.

If you are the owner of the dog in question, it is highly advisable that you take steps to reduce the likelihood of your dog biting others. Having your dog spayed or neutered is an important first step in achieving this. A dog’s aggression and impulse to other dogs and other humans can be achieved by spaying or neutering your dog. You might also begin by introducing your dog into social settings. Your dog may need time to adapt to being around by other people or dogs. It is also an excellent idea to personally train your dog to respond to your commands.

Dogs can be wonderful pets, but remember that dogs can also be dangerous. The information in this article can greatly reduce your chances of being bitten by a unknown dog.