Canines and humans have always enjoyed a symbiotic friendship of love and loyalty since as long as we can imagine. Dogs have evolved to become great companions, hunting aides, guardians and playmates to men. But despite years and years of conditioning and domestication, dogs are not entirely free of some of their primeval instincts. And for every thousand heart-warming stories of man-canine friendship, there is one about man’s best friend turning against him in vicious ways. The recent Sitapur stray dog attacks, which claimed the lives of 13 children, makes one question whether dogs can indeed be trusted around humans at all.

Why Do Dogs Attack Children?

Dogs are pack animals who are feral at heart and are territorial, despite years of domestication. They will be prompted to bite humans under many circumstances. Certain factors may cause dogs to view human beings, particularly young children, as potential prey. These include hunger, prior habits of predation, group behaviour, territorial instincts, presence of female dogs in heat, environmental stimuli, etc. Children are among the most common victims of dog attacks, owing to their smaller size and lack of understanding. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) cites a number of reasons why dogs may attack.

Since canines are territorial, they may drive away or attack anyone if they intrude or invade their turf. They can attack as a means to protect their pack or pack members from a potential threat. Dogs attack when they feel they are cornered or trapped.

Sometimes, they end up redirecting their aggression against an animal or a person, if someone interferes. When dogs attack children, they may either do so to showcase their alpha status. Since they are larger in size, they may think themselves superior and show their aggression towards the children.

Dogs also have a habit of chasing after and barking at moving objects like vehicles. They are closely-related to large predators like wolves and coyotes, so they still retain some classic predatory behaviours like chasing and overpowering fast-moving things. These instincts even make dogs chase small animals like squirrels and cats and kill them.

This type of predatory aggression is the most dangerous, because dogs rarely present any kind of warning signs like growling or showing teeth to ward off the victim. ASPA says that even the sound of a crying child or lifting a child out of a crib can trigger a sudden predatory reaction from dogs. Larger, older dogs, especially the ones with a history of biting people are the most dangerous.

How to Keep Dogs from Attacking

If your locality is inhabited by packs of unruly dogs, never make the mistake of letting your child go alone anywhere. Even groups of children are not safe from dog attacks. There should be adult supervision all the time. Adults should teach the children a list of dos and don’ts while dealing with animals. Some children may be naturally friendly towards animals and others may not. But these set of rules apply to both.

Never Approach Unfamiliar Dogs: Dogs are paranoid, territorial creatures who may mistake friendly gestures for a threat, triggering an attack. So advise children to stay far away from unfamiliar dogs.

Never Scream or Run Away From a Dog: As explained earlier, dogs find a primitive thrill in chasing and capturing fast-moving object. If in the child is in the vicinity of a suspicious dog, advise the child to move away slowly from the dog. Even acts like flailing, kicking and screaming tend to excite the dog, making it attack even furiously.

Never Leave a Child Alone with a Dog: No matter how friendly and domesticated, even the smallest of dogs can go back to their primitive, aggressive instincts if they feel provoked. There are many cases of pet dogs who has been with the family for years attacking new born children in a fit of jealousy.

Avoid Eye Contact with the Dog: While eye contact in human beings are a sign of trust, in dogs, it can have the opposite effect. Looking straight into the eyes is a sign of dominance and aggression in dogs, which can trigger a violent response.

Remain Motionless and Let the Dog Sniff you: If a suspicious-looking dog approaches the child, instead of screaming and running away, advise the child to stand still and let the dog sniff. Playing possum is the best way to avert any danger. That way, it will familiarise itself with the child’s scent and won’t think of it as a threat.

Cover the Neck and Dace Area: The commonest site of dog attacks are the neck and the face. In case the dog overpowers you or the child, use something to protect the face and the jugular area, like a sweat shirt or a jacket.

Whether the dog is a pet or a stray, advise your children to exercise caution while dealing with them. If there is a stray dog menace, get in touch with your local municipal authorities to tackle the problem.  Touchy dog owners may never admit that their pets are capable of attacking. But as parents, it is your responsibility to ensure that the children don't get bitten. So be straight with careless pet owners who leave their dogs unattended.

(Reference:Attacks by packs of dogs involving predation on human beings)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 14, 2018 07:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).