Learning From a Bad Situation - Reporter Bitten in the Face by Dog

I just caught a short interview with the reporter that was bit in the face by a dog a few weeks ago.  This short interview focused on her recovery - no mention of the dog...

The dog had been rescued after falling into a frigid lake after chasing a coyote.  The dog's owner and the firefighter who rescued the dog were being interviewed by the reporter when the bite occurred.

While the reporter was injured - which is tragic- what concerns me is that the dog clearly gave many signals that he was uncomfortable in the situation.  If someone had been paying attention, the bite could have been prevented.  Now the reporter must endure surgeries to reconstruct her face, and the dog's life may be in jeopardy.

Now, hindsight is always 20/20, however when I first saw the initial report, it was clear that the dog was nervous and scared.  Think about it- the dog had
1. Gotten itself stuck in a situation where it needed to be rescued (scary for the dog I am sure).
2. In the news room, this poor dog was surrounded by new people, lots of commotion, boom mikes, bright lights, and an entirely new surrounding (sensory overload).
3. The reporter - who is a stranger to this dog - is kneeling down right next to the dog- putting her face even with the dog's face (very threatening to most dogs).
4.Throughout the short interview, the dog is receiving "nervous petting" by the reporter and the owner (making the dog more anxious).
5. The dog is stress panting, licking his lips nervously, trying various avoidance tactics (moving head away from reporter, etc.), and clearly gives a warning snarl right before the reporter leans in to kiss the dog.

This poor dog was put in to a situation that he should have never been in.  The owner  was not being an advocate for the dog (which I believe is every owner's responsibility).  No one was protecting the DOG and his needs.  

So many things went wrong so quickly, and what amazes me is that this type of dog bite happens more and more often.  So what can be done to prevent this situation?  Teaching & Educating...  The HUMANS!

Even the most well-mannered, friendliest dog can bite.

Most dog bites occur because humans have put themselves - and the dog - in a situation where the dog feels that he must defend himself.  If the humans involved only recognized the warning signs from the dog, maybe there would be less dog bites...

So, what are some signs that it may not be wise to place your face near a dog that considers you a stranger?  At no time - EVER - is it wise to put your face near a dog that you do not know.  To me, it is like walking up to a stranger and kissing them on the cheek!  Some people may slap you - because you invaded their personal space.  Others may just yell at you.  Dogs can do neither...

What about other warning signs that a dog may not be comfortable in a situation?  A dog trying to pull away indicates that the dog is trying to avoid the situation.  Stress yawning, excessive panting, lip licking, eye avoidance - all of these are indicators that a dog is uncomfortable.

We all love our dogs, but they are dogs, not humans. They cannot speak our human language, so it is the owner's responsibility to be their dog's advocate.  If someone had recognized this dog's stress reactions and removed him from the situation, the bite could have been avoided.  Please be an advocate for your dog.