The following true story shows exactly what I mean. A handler was holding the leash of what seemed to be a very friendly rescue dog that had just come into the shelter. As I was standing in the room with the dog and the handler, a family came in with their 6-year-old daughter. The girl approached the dog and, without asking the handler, took the dog's face in her hands and kissed it on the nose. The handler asked the girl's parents to take her away from the dog as its history was uncertain and the dog's reactions couldn't be predicted. The parents replied that the handler was not to worry because the child had a dog of her own and was great with dogs. Now, if the parents didn't realize that they had just put their child in harm's way by allowing her to greet a dog like that, there was no hope for the child. What they should have taught her was NEVER to approach a dog that she didn't know without asking the handler first and to never kiss a dog on the nose. If the child had been bitten, the dog and its handler would have been blamed, when the real blame should have been with the parents. Fortunately, in this instance, the dog was very friendly and no one got bitten, but you get my point.

Dogs make wonderful companions and need to be treated with care and respect. Most dogs are very friendly and will not bite; however, there are some dogs that show aggression for reasons such as fear, anger, frustration or protection. It is vital that you recognize the signs that a dog is about to bite. Some dogs will growl, tense up, or bark aggressively at you while other dogs will give no visible warning, and this is why it is so important that you follow this guide to keep yourself safer.

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