Quick Answer: Separate the dog immediately from the situation. Provide first aid to the person and encourage them to seek medical attention — even small bites can become infected. Exchange contact information. Know your local legal requirements for reporting dog bites — these vary significantly by jurisdiction. Seek a professional behavioral assessment for your dog after any bite incident, regardless of severity.
Immediate Steps
- Separate dog from person — calmly but firmly
- First aid — clean the wound with soap and water, encourage medical attention
- Exchange contact details with the injured person
- Document the incident — time, location, circumstances, any witnesses
- Contact your vet or local authority if legally required in your area
After the Incident
- Professional behavioral assessment is not optional after a bite
- Do not rehome without disclosing the bite history — this is both ethical and often legally required
- Identify and address the trigger — dogs rarely bite without warning signals that were missed
Prevention
Understanding dog body language prevents most bites. A dog showing calming signals, whale eye, freezing, or stiffening is communicating clearly before biting. See the dog body language guide.
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