A BBC investigation published earlier this year showed that dog attacks recorded by police in England and Wales had risen by 21% in a year. At the same time, dog rehoming centres are seeing an increase in demand for services as owners look to relinquish their pets.
Now, new research from the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, has revealed that 76% of owners are unable to correctly read dog body language, misunderstanding the subtle signs that their pets are stressed or worried – which in turn can lead to acts of aggression, including biting.
The results, released as part of the charity’s National Dog Survey, also show that 71% of owners wrongly believe they are more likely to be bitten by a dog they don’t know than by their own pet. However, according to well-established research, this is not the case, with most dog bites to children occurring by a known dog in the home.
In a bid to reduce the number of dog bites, Dogs Trust is calling on owners to go “Bark to School” and learn dog body language.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in the UK’s dog population over the last few years, and around a third of all UK households now own a dog," says Maria Murray, Associate Director Prevention and Community Engagement at Dog’s Trust.
"Along with the growth in ownership, we have also seen a rise in the number of dog bite incidents and injuries, most of which happen within the home involving known dogs."
Most dog bites, and other acts of aggression, happen when dogs feel worried, scared or stressed, according to Dogs Trust, and the charity believes many of these incidents could be prevented if owners can spot the early warning signs that their dogs are distressed – such as their ears going back, tension in their body, or their tail tucked between their legs.
Murray says that lessons in body language mean owners can better understand when to "remove their dog from the situation or take steps to prevent things escalating."
Here are some of the body language signs and signals missed the most, according to the National Dog Survey:
- A common misconception is that a dog rolling over when approached means they want a belly rub. 76% failed to spot that this could mean a dog is feeling uncomfortable or needs space.
- Two thirds of those surveyed did not know that yawning can indicate that their dog is worried and needs space.
- 59% failed to recognise that a dog licking their lips with their ears pulled back means they could be worried and need space, and 53% failed to recognise that a dog licking their lips while turning their head away could also be a sign that a dog is uncomfortable.
- Around a third of those surveyed said they thought a wagging tail always means a dog is happy. However, dogs wag their tails for all sorts of reasons - tail movements are a great way to communicate - but they don’t always mean a dog is happy.
“Unfortunately, when these signs are missed, it can have a huge impact on all involved, including the dog," says Murray.
"Over the last year, we have received over eight thousand calls from owners looking to relinquish their dog due to problem behaviours, and in cases where the worst happens and someone is injured, owners may have to make the devastating decision to have their dogs euthanised."
The National Dog Survey is based on insights from over 400,000 of the UK’s dogs and their owners.
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