1000 times a day in the United States, a dog sends its owner to the emergency room
NEISS-AIP hospital data on dog bites, and why more than 80% of them happen at home — inflicted on family members and those closest to them.
Still don't believe in hierarchy? Yet every day in the United States, 1000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for a dog bite, according to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS-AIP). And more than 80% of these bites happen... at home — inflicted on family members and close friends.
Treat your dog like a human, and sooner or later it will remind you of its true nature.
Why do these accidents happen? For Monique Bourdin, veterinary doctor at INSERM, graduate of the Institut Pasteur, and responsible for teaching behavioral disorders at the French national veterinary school, the answer is clear: "Accidents by bites are essentially linked to the failure to respect the species' way of life." She adds: "The dog is a social being; to thrive, it must live this hierarchical relationship in food, territory, and contacts. This is the only way to structure and soothe the animal."
Perhaps, at some point, you will stop believing the social media fairy tales claiming that dogs are not hierarchical animals, and that it is fine to let them onto your couch or bed. The "professionals" who tell you this bear some responsibility for these bites.
Stephan MairesseProfessional dog trainer & canine behaviorist, 30 years of experience across 16 countries. Certificat de capacité N°750108. Read his full background →
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