Hyderabad: It’s not just stray dogs that bite people, hospitals also treat several cases of bites by pet dogs. Experts say most of these cases happen happen due to harsh interaction with pet dogs.
The GHMC does not record the number of cases of bites by pet dogs. Explaining the behaviour of pet dogs, Mr Phillips Butt of Commando Kennels said, “Pet dogs will definitely bite when they feel threatened. The trigger is at different levels for dogs, be it a stray or a pet.”
Good training is important for pet dogs, Mr Butt said. “It is important to train the dog properly so that the tigger levels are not low. Every dog follows the flight-to -fight trigger: they either fight or run away,” he said.
Children teasing or pelting objects at them will aggravate the dog, as will keeping it tied, he said.
It is important for the dog to socialise from a young age. Mr Padmaja Bundla, a pet owner who has also worked with strays, said, that his nine-year-old cocker spaniel has many children as friends.
“Recently some children were trying to train it to sit and stand. To make him sit, they started pressing his back. My pet felt hurt and caught the hand of the child. The child had unknowingly hurt him and he retaliated,” Mr Bundla said.
“Dogs react to pain, be it a stray or a pet,” he said. He said many dogs bite when they are cuddled, because they may not like the affection at that moment. “For every bite, the dog is blamed as it does not have an advocate,” Mr Bundla said.
