How situational awareness can prevent dog bites

Dog attacks may seem like random events that occur because the animal is a vicious killer. However, the truth is that most dog bite incidents that occur in California involve canines that were simply defending themselves, their humans or their territory. In many cases, dogs will give clues that they want to be left alone long before they attack their victims.

Dogs may yawn or lick their lips when stressed

A dog that is yawning, licking its lips or sighing loudly is showing signs of stress. At this point, the animal is merely tolerating your behavior as opposed to enjoying it. In some cases, stressed dogs will try to remove themselves from a situation by moving as far away from a stressor as possible.

Back away from a dog that shows its teeth when growling

If a canine shows its teeth when growling, it is a sign that the animal sees you as a threat and may resort to biting in an effort to defend itself. At this point, it is important to put as much space between yourself and the angry dog as possible. In most cases, taking this step will be enough to prevent a dog bite incident from occurring. This is because a typical dog is no more interested in getting into a fight than you are.

If you’re bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to compensation from its owner. A financial award may be able to help to pay medical bills, lost wages and other expenses incurred as a result of the animal’s actions. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the dog’s owner may face strict liability for its actions. This means that you will likely receive a payout without proving that the defendant acted in a negligent manner.