04/04/2026
SAFETY FIRST: Safety is always the number one priority when in the presence of dogs. It does not matter how certain or confident you feel about your dog’s behavior or conduct. This applies to any other dog as well. Dogs have their own instincts, drives, reactions, social rules, and communication. Each dog breed has slightly different genetically driven ways of being in their world and each dog has an individual expression of these genes. Every dog has their own set of traits, experiences, and personality that makes them a true individual. The fact is that any dog can react or respond to an unpredictable trigger in the environment that could lead to a dog bite, regardless of their history. Dog bites vary in severity and can range from mild to severe, including the possibility of a fatal attack in some circumstances. You should not live in fear of your dog or dogs in general, but you must always respect their instincts that empowered their ancestors to adapt, evolve, survive and thrive as dominant predators in various environmental conditions. Never allow small children to be unattended or unsupervised around any dog. Never allow small children to be anywhere near an unfamiliar dog that is off leash. Never allow small children to pet unfamiliar dogs, even if they are on a leash. Small children can trigger prey drive, rank drive, dominance, reactivity, anxiety, and stress in dogs. Any one of these triggers can lead to an automatic, unintentional, unprovoked dog bite. Always keep children safe when dogs are present out of care and concern for the children and the dogs.
