Bark Busters Media
20 JULY 2006
Educate, don’t legislate
Education imperative to reduce risk of dog bites, says Bark Busters
Education – not legislation is needed to help mitigate the risk of dog bites, claims leading Australian dog training group Bark Busters. The call follows a number of recent dog attacks and the move in NSW and other states to ban certain dog breeds.
“We need education, not legislation banning different dog breeds,” said Bark Busters’ Australia owner and Master Dog Trainer Bryan Edwards. “It’s the deed – not the breed. We need more education for dog owners and the public in general on how to manage dogs better and reduce the risk of dog attacks. And we need to explain to them how the dog’s mind works, so they can understand what all dogs are capable of. Dogs are simple thinking creatures and will always react on instinct. They are territorial and will protect their homes and their owners. That is a fact of life, and is why we brought dogs in from the wild in the first place.
“It’s very distressing to hear about these dog attacks. Unfortunately dog bites are a perennial problem – but they don’t have to be. Parents should never assume their children are safe around dogs, even if the dog is familiar. The best way to prevent your child – and yourself – from being bitten is for everyone to learn important dog safety rules.
“The plan to ban different dog breeds simply will not work. It will take at least 15 years for all of these dogs to die out, and attacks by these dogs and others will still occur, mainly because man has never learned how to live safely with canines.”
Bark Busters recently called for an annual Australia-wide Dog Bite Prevention Week, which has had huge success in the United States in raising awareness around the serious problem of dog bites.
Bark Busters has developed programs which are used to teach children and adults how to avoid attack. They have a school education program, and distribute a child safety video ‘Dally Says’ free of charge to council rangers so they can also educate children on how not to get bitten by dogs. In addition, Bark Busters’ ‘Stand Rite, No Bite™’ dog safety program teaches service industry staff how to avoid dog bites and attacks when entering properties. The lecture is used by organisations including Telstra, water authorities, electricity and gas companies, local councils, the police and the Australian Electoral Commission. In one area, the lectures have reduced dog attacks to nil, where previously there had been monthly attacks.
Safety tips
- Never pat a strange dog, even if its owner is present.
- Stay away from a dog while it’s eating and sleeping.
- Stop your bike if chased while riding.
- Never retrieve a ball from someone else’s yard, even if you know the dog.
- Stay away from a dog that has puppies.
- Stay away from a dog that is tied up.
- Never pull a dog’s tail or ears.
- Never tease a dog or make it angry.
- If a dog runs at you barking, stand totally still and cover your face with your hands.
- If knocked to the ground by a dog, roll into a ball, cover your face with your arms and stay as still as you possibly can. Don’t try to get up.
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About Bark Busters
Bark Busters dog behavioral therapists are renowned authorities in the area of correcting dog behaviour. The Bark Busters’ training system can successfully train any dog, even puppies. The company’s natural training technique leverages the same communications methods - body language and voice control – that dogs follow as part of their instinctual pack mentality. About 80 per cent of Bark Buster clients require only one two-hour home visit from a licensed dog behavioural therapist, if they continue with just 10 to15 minutes a day follow-up exercises for several weeks. All training takes place right in the home where the problems generally occur. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers a lifetime guarantee. Therapists will provide future sessions free of charge if problem behaviors recur, or if any new problems develop.
For further information:
Bryan Edwards (Director)
Bark Busters Australia
Phone: (02) 4262 0783
Fax: (0) 4262 0793
Email: bryan@barkbusters.com.au
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