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If you regularly feel anxious, you might be the perfect candidate for a dog bite. According to a new study published Feb. 1 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, dog bites in the United Kingdom may be three times more common than official records indicate.
One surprising reason for this? People with an emotionally anxious personality appear to be the likeliest recipients of dog bites (and the least likely people to report them), researchers said.
If you regularly feel anxious, you might be the perfect candidate for a dog bite. According to a new study published Feb. 1 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, dog bites in the United Kingdom may be three times more common than official records indicate.
One surprising reason for this? People with an emotionally anxious personality appear to be the likeliest recipients of dog bites (and the least likely people to report them), researchers said.
Interesting, but not really shocking. That animals, particularly animals as social as dogs, "read" the moods of the people around them is nothing new, nor is the fact that most dogs respond best to a demeanor of calm confidence.
Dog owners have long known this. It is a combination of smells and nervous actions that precipitate some bites. Why? Fearful animals are understood by all to be more likely to lash out because they are frightened. So fearful humans, who may not exhibit empathetic behaviors, create worry in other animals like dogs as well. Dogs, cats, horses, cows, etc are more relaxed around relaxed humans, and more on edge around those who are nervous and fearful. Just like a criminal with a gun, better to be around one who is relaxed than nervous.
Best to learn how to relax around animals and to enjoy their company. Parents should find friends to help their kids become comfortable around animals even if the parents are unfortunately fearful.
I agree, I think dogs pick up on fearful vibes, and when they do, it puts them on alert ("why is this person so nervous? what's wrong???"). If the fear continues, depending on the fear levels of the particular dog, they could wind up biting, or giving a warning signal of some sort.
My experience with cats, OTOH (very generally speaking) is that they tend to be more laid-back and don't worry quite as much if they encounter a nervous person. I've found that usually they just steer clear of the person in question. One exception: I grew up with a cat - a Siamese - who was drawn like a magnet to people who were nervous of him. His reaction was to make an instant beeline to them, and if they were seated, he would jump on their laps and get right in their face and purr...totally ignoring the tense body, the absolute fear, and the desperate pleas for help. We had to remove him a few times from an unsuspecting 'prey'.
If you regularly feel anxious, you might be the perfect candidate for a dog bite. According to a new study published Feb. 1 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, dog bites in the United Kingdom may be three times more common than official records indicate.
One surprising reason for this? People with an emotionally anxious personality appear to be the likeliest recipients of dog bites (and the least likely people to report them), researchers said.
From the behavior of dogs who have been my companions in my life this is true. However, also in my experience, it depends on WHY a person is anxious or emotionally wound up. Dogs can sense ill intent and if a person is capable of ill intent.
I trust my dog.
I have never raised a dog to be aggressive out of hand. They were ALWAYS under my complete control. I'm the Alpha. I have had dogs who reacted adversely to certain people, and depending on the strength of that reaction these people were invited to leave immediately or closely watched. On either end these people were not welcome to come back to my house.
Just being anxious on it's own has not been a reason for any of the dogs I have had alongside me to key in an aggressive manner. My lady ( Rest in Peace) was a very anxious and wound up person. However not because she was any threat. My dogs would come to her and lay their heads in her lap, lick her hand, and offer comfort. Her anxiety was due to needing help and comfort.
But if there is an underlying aggression in a persons anxiety, I have seen my dogs react to that as well. And yes indeed....yepper, time for these people to leave.
I think the person most likely to be bitten, is the clueless person who rushes over to a strange dog, looms over them with their face right in the dog's face, and starts grabbing.
I suspect that the majority of bites on children are from this behavior, rather than from a child's shyness.
Someone else likely to get bitten, is a person with bad intentions who gets too close to the dog's owner
Anxious people act like prey, but a sane dog won't normally bite a human acting like prey. That should only be a problem with badly socialized dogs, or with a loose pack of dogs.
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