WARREN Experts in canine behavior differ on how attacks should be handled
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- There is no guaranteed strategy to prevent a dog attack, but owners and possible victims can reduce the odds.
Even dog behaviorists disagree on how to react during an attack.
Diane Edwards, a 30-year dog trainer and behaviorist from Howland, believes in a gentle approach, while Harrison Forbes, syndicated talk-show host of "Pet Talk" in Tennessee, says being firm works best.
The observations of Forbes and Edwards, owner of Diane's Dog Training, come after a Feb. 8 attack in Warren in which a Rottweiler dragging its chain went after a woman and her two teenagers.
Cathy Triplett's son, 13-year-old Shane Hazelbaker, suffered 12 puncture wounds of the arm when attacked at their Belvedere Avenue home. The dog was destroyed by police after it twice attacked an officer.
"Given the right circumstances, any dog will bite," Edwards said.
Numbers
It's difficult to determine the number of actual dog bites in Trumbull County.
There were 351 animal bites reported to boards of health in 2005, including bites by cats, horses and a snake in one case.
If the police aren't notified or the victim doesn't seek medical attention, the health boards wouldn't know they occurred.
The numbers of bites reported are 201 to the county; Warren, 106; Niles, 33; and Girard, 11.
James Dobson, Girard health commissioner, said many dog bites go unreported because the injuries are limited.
Ways of dealing with dogs differ.
Edwards recommends just walking to safety, such as into the house if a stray dog is a long distance away.
Owners can do a lot to help prevent an attack beginning at the dog's birth.
Edwards explained that puppies should not be taken from their mother and the rest of the litter until they're 8 weeks old.
"They teach each other manners," the trainer said, noting that the mother and litter teach a puppy that biting is not acceptable.
Making dogs feel safe
After a puppy is placed with an owner, Edwards said, it should go through gentle obedience training using positive reinforcement.
The dog won't be harmed emotionally or physically. She recommends training the puppy with kindness yet firmness to walk with a leash, become housebroken and to come to its owner.
Edwards said people definitely should not strike, slap or punch the dog.
"Some people bite their dog" as part of the training process. "The dog will turn on them, and I don't blame then," Edwards commented.
The dog is protective of itself, food, owner, territory or mate, she said.
"You don't want to threaten your dog. Make it feel safe in its home," she said.
The dog is terrified if hanging its head, tucking its tail, looking away or being skittish. Get it back on its feet and talk to the dog softly.
In the case of an older dog, don't crowd it. Dogs feel stress, which can be released by giving the dog something to chew or through exercise, she said.
In event of an attack, Edwards explained, don't stare at the dog because that is threatening. Keep the dog in sight from the corner of the eye, don't turn away from the animal, and back away slowly without falling.
She suggests talking to the dog with a soothing voice. Don't say "no" to the dog because some owners say "no" and hit their pet.
A different approach
Forbes disagrees.
Forbes, also a dog trainer, suggests using a firm "no" if a dog attacks because every dog knows the meaning of the word.
Don't run from an attacking dog, Forbes recommends. Even turning to the side will heighten the dog's prey drive.
"Keep the dog in front of you," he said. "Try and back out of the situation. It blows their mind when somebody stays in front of them."
Edwards says the difference in firmness and gentleness may be the difference between a woman's and man's perspective.
Dogs know the difference between men and women, and men's being firm can work for them.
In the Warren case, Forbes said, it may be a situation where the dog didn't have a true sense of its property. In the dog's mind, he was defending his property.
Another factor, Forbes explained, is that the dog was chained. Its "defense drive" increases due to genetics. When a dog is chained, it becomes isolated with no socialization to guide it.
yovich@vindy.com