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 of 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? Current environment Moods, Previous emotions and experiences motivations Species Medical behaviour problems
What affects behaviour? 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)
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
What affects behaviour? 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? 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?
When is it safe to interact? 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!
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)
How to interact appropriately 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 other) ― 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?
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
Health and Safety considerations Always remember… Is there anything ‘wrong’ with this scenario then? • Open toed shoes • Loose floaty top • Lanyard and necklace dangling • Loose long hair
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 of kennels is likely to cause frustration • It is important to plan feeding times to avoid frustration as much as possible.
Reducing Risks – Feeding Dogs • Some dogs may show behavioural signs around feeding that are not obvious 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 or 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 – 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 one 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
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