How to Prevent Dog Bites And Fights

We all get upset on hearing tragic stories involving dog bites (often with children). The truth is that dogs (even if well-trained) don’t speak our language. But most incidents can be prevented simply by learning how dogs communicate, humane dog training, teaching children and others how to approach dogs, and not keeping them chained up or in stressful situations.

Nearly all serious bite incidents are from dogs that are not properly socialised (far more important than their ‘breed’, more on that later). Doggie Language is a wonderful little read by artist Lili Chin, whose charts are used worldwide to educate the public, shelters and vets on dog communication.

Understand Dog Body Language

Dogs speak with their bodies, and knowing a few signs, can almost give you warning if a dog is not happy. Sometimes wagging tails and rolling onto their back does not mean dogs are happy. Learn dog language, and you’re halfway there.

Key Warning Signs to Watch

Hardly any dog ‘bites out of nowhere’. Most give a lot of signals first. Dog trainer Liarne Henry (who has been ‘making naughty dogs nice’ for 30 years) says that growling is usually a sign to say ‘I’m scared, leave me alone’ rather than a mount to attack. She says always reward good behaviour, to focus back on you, and away from what’s making them unhappy:

Signs of an unhappy stressed dog include:

• A rigid body, often guarding food or toys
• A fixed stare (the reason you should never stare at a dog)
• Curling the lips or showing the teeth
• Lowering the body and slowing down
• Yawning or licking the lips
• Shaking and pawing
• Raised hair on the back (just like cats with arched backs)

Take these signs seriously. Early steps like calling your dog away, removing toys, or asking people to give space prevent accidents.

Dogs Trust has a great page of info on how to read a dog’s body language. In summary, signs a dog is anxious or fearful include:

Keeping Children Safe Near Dogs

First of all, don’t let children scream if they are scared of dogs. You see this sometimes in parks or at the beach. It’s dumb, as this will almost incite a dog to attack. Teach your child to just stay away from dogs, if scared.

As with adults, if approaching dogs, have them crouch down diagonally and offer a hand, so dogs can come to them. And always ask permission first, before petting a dog.

Most don’t like being patted on the head, and nearly all dogs hate being hugged. And never leave children alone with dogs (however friendly). 

Teaching Calm Greetings

We all love dogs, but raising your voice and being excited, is usually not the best idea. If you watch a dog trainer or behaviourist, they are usually quite calm (sometimes silent), just going through the motions of what they do, to gain trust with a new dog.

Always reward calmness on their end too – play, a favourite treat or gentle stroke. Dogs love to learn, and especially if the teacher is kind, firm and quiet.

How to Avoid Biting the Postie!

Dogs bite posties, simply because they are defending their territory. Good training should help. Teach dogs to sit away from doors (and use one of those letterbox guards that ‘hide fingers’.

Keep dogs in another room and make sure gates are locked. If still no joy, consider investing in a locked outdoor box to deliver mail and parcels.

To track progress for postie-friendly training: 

Set up a simple table for each trigger you work on. You can use check marks or quick notes at the end of each session.

• Day 1 (doorbell trigger), reaction (barked, settled after 10 seconds)
• Day 2 (doorbell trigger), reaction (barked, calmed with treat)
• Day 4 (doorbell trigger), reaction (looked up, no barking)

By tracking your dog’s reaction over time, you can see clear improvement. If your dog goes back a step, just take the process slower.

Keeping Dogs Safe in Public Areas

How you walk your dog in public affects everyone’s safety. Good lead habits stop accidents, reduce fights, and help your dog stay calm around distractions.

If walking in nature, always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. For coastal areas, check tide times and warning flags, and read our post on keeping dogs safe by the seaside.

Here are practical rules to follow when out with your dog:

• Keep a short, relaxed lead: A lead one to 1.2 to 1.8 metres (just below or above 5 ft, depending on size of dogs) gives you control without making your dog feel trapped. Avoid retractable leads in busy areas, as they give too much slack and make it hard to react quickly. Most dog trainers and vets are not fans, as they can tangle.
• Use a front‑clip harness: These harnesses help guide your dog and reduce pulling, making walks steadier and safer. A back-clip harness can give less control, if your dog gets overexcited.
• Watch for body language: Stay alert for signs of stress or tension in other dogs. If another dog looks stiff, cowers, or barks, calmly increase the distance. Cross the street or turn away if needed. Do not force a greeting.
• Give space at gates and corners: Slow down near corners, narrow lanes, or bins where dogs or people may appear suddenly. Let others pass before continuing.
• Stay focused in parks: In parks and fields, check where dogs are playing. If your dog is on a lead and others are running loose, keep space—some dogs do not like being approached by unfamiliar, off-lead dogs.

Guardians should also teach their dogs “Leave it” and “Come away” commands for quick redirection. This helps avoid quarrels or unwanted sniffing with other dogs.

If you see someone struggling with their dog, give breathing room instead of adding pressure. For community members, keep children from running directly up to dogs, and always ask owners before bringing over another pet for a greeting.

What About Muzzles and Head Halters?

Ask your trainer or behaviourist if one is necessary. Many dogs don’t like them, but often don’t judge, as it’s a sign that the guardian is helping to train a dog, and keep it (and you) safe. Often they are used in vet surgeries or as legal requirements for certain breeds.

If used, ensure they are breathable and let dogs pant comfortably, drink and take treats. Only use when needed, and always use alongside humane dog training methods.

How to Prevent (and Stop Dog Fights)

If you witness a dog fight, experts say the best thing is for each person to grab the hind legs of each dog.

Wheel them away from each other in a large circle (like a wheelbarrow but backwards) so they can’t access each other. Keep them separate to calm down, and seek vet attention, if needed.

If you know of illegal dog fights, report to the RSPCA, Animal CrimeWatch and Crimestoppers (can be anonymous).

Legal and Community Responsibilities

If your dog has been involved in a fight, vets and therefore lawyers will usually be involved. If you feel your dog has been unfairly accused, there are dog lawyers that specialise in these of cases.

If you or someone else is bitten by a dog, clean the wound with disinfectant, apply antibacterial ointment, and cover with a bandage until you reach the GP or hospital, where you’ll receive treatment and a tetanus jab (no need for rabies jabs in England if the dog is local). 

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is a criminal offence for a dog to be “dangerously out of control” in any public (or private) place. This includes biting or even frightening someone or another animal. Councils may use Public Spaces Protection Orders to set leash requirements, ban dogs from playgrounds. So prevention is always better than cure.

• Most pet insurance includes public liability insurance. But you still have responsibility to keep dogs under control in public areas.
• The Canine Commandments is a book to help prevent dog bites. Written by a behaviourist, it includes the ‘ladder of aggression’ to understand dog signs, and is a good book for teaching.
• Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors can direct you to highly trained experts who are referred by vets. In some cases, they can transform behaviour of aggressive dogs, simply by a couple of home visits and follow-up calls. There is also a lot of free information on the website.