Bites are more common than most people think. If we analyze the results of a
investigation conducted in Besançon, France by Filiatre et al. (1990) concerning 184 bites of children
(1 to 15 years) treated in an anti-rabies center, it is interesting to note an increase in
percentage of bites:
a) between 1 and 4 years old,
b) between 7-8 years old and
c) around 11 years old.
According to the survey conducted by EHLASS (between 1986 and 1988), 40% of bites occur in
young people under 15, 16% of whom are children aged 1 to 5 years old. Before 5 years, the attack
more frequent is at the level of the face; one in three accidents occurs at home.
However, the majority of parents whose children were bitten by the family dog thought they could
trust the animal completely. Accidents are the result of all breeds, from the smallest to the most
the largest, from that deemed "the kindest" to that deemed "very aggressive". It is imperative to
remember that every dog remains a dog, with his dog behavior and that he reacts to a situation
as he feels it (that is to say often in a different way from us) and according to his codes
which do not correspond to our moral codes.
One should never speak of malice in the human sense of the term.
To understand what's going on, it's helpful to look at how adult dogs behave
towards puppies, since children are considered puppies. Although the mother is showing
generally very tolerant, the first constraints appear already at the time of weaning.
The education of the puppies is very different according to the mothers: some show themselves
extremely severe, others much more lax: it all depends on the temperament of the bitch and
certainly also the temperament of puppies. If a puppy is too insistent, she can
threaten and then make an inhibited bite of the muzzle.
This behavior causes the passive submission of the puppy, submission which results in stopping
instantaneous aggression vis-à-vis. Identical behavior is observed in others
adult dogs: if they are generally very tolerant of puppies, they will not leave
however not everything.
The more the puppy grows, the more he is disciplined: this is a normal process that allows the puppy
to learn little by little the laws of the hierarchy, essential laws to be able later to integrate
harmoniously in the pack.
