While most dog owners are responsible and ensure that their pets are appropriately restrained, people are still bitten. A dog bite can cause serious health problems, and a savage dog attack can result in serious injury or death, especially for an elderly person or a child. Everyone should take dog safety seriously, and make the effort to train animals to prevent accidents and teach children safe behavior around dogs.

Dog owners have serious responsibilities. First, a dog must have all of its vaccinations on a regular schedule. Failure to vaccinate dogs appropriately not only poses health risks for the animal, but poses serious risks of transmitting disease. Dogs must also be fed and watered regularly because dogs can become aggressive when neglected.

The best prevention for dog bites is to keep the animal restrained. This means putting the dog on a leash every time you take it out of your fenced-in yard or house, and keeping it leashed the entire time you are out.

Most cities have leash laws, which require owners to keep animals on a leash at all times, and impose heavy fines if they are not. Make sure that fencing is in good condition and that gates remain closed. If a dog gets out of its enclosure, any damage caused will be the owner's responsibility.

As a pet owner, you should choose a breed responsibly. In some areas, certain breeds have been banned due to aggressive behavior. Choose a dog which can be a good companion, not one that is inclined, by its breeding, to be aggressive, even if they are good watchdogs. Dogs trained to be aggressive to intruders are often aggressive to invited guests, as well.

Owners have a responsibility to train their animals. Acclimating dogs to other dogs and people helps them become socially adept and greatly reduces the chance of biting. If you have an older dog who is not sociable, keep it out of the way when you have visitors and discourage children from playing with the dog by isolating it if necessary.

Children should be taught safe behavior when they are exposed to dogs. Most children love dogs, and will automatically run towards one and reach out to pet it. This can be very dangerous with a strange dog. Children should also be taught avoidance behavior if approached by an aggressive animal. If your children are often around dogs, it would be worthwhile to invest in safety lessons from a local pet authority.

Adults can also benefit from training in handling aggressive animals. Be aware of dogs from a distance and do not run from an attacking animal. Rather, speak softly and withdraw at a reasonable pace. Walk or jog with someone else, if possible because dogs are more likely to attack a lone pedestrian.

If you are bitten by a dog, you should seek the advice of an attorney to determine your rights. You might be entitled to compensation for your injuries and medical expenses. This is especially the case if your injuries are severe enough to justify punitive damages. Courts will award large sums to victims that need extensive and ongoing rehabilitation.