SAN ANTONIO – Saturday marked the seventh major dog attack KSAT has reported on this year within Bexar County.
A dog attacked a 1-year-old and 3-year-old at a West Side apartment and seriously injured them. In October, a dog attacked and killed a 1-year-old at a home near Converse.
The dogs involved in all of this year’s attacks are pets, not strays, and owners are paying the price.
WATCH BELOW: Recent dog attack rises to 7 cases in Bexar County this year
Animal Care Services says the root issue is irresponsible dog ownership.
“We’re going to go this way, good girl!” Jordan Tietz, ACS lead dog training behavior consultant, said while training a puppy named “Champ.”
Tietz collaborates with adopters and fosters, offering private and public training sessions.
“We can do group classes, in-person consults, email consultation or phone consultation whenever, wherever. We’re here to help you keep pets in your care and take better care of your pets,” she said.
After this year’s rash of dog attacks, ACS has said it’s clear why training and responsible ownership is necessary.
“That way we’re not overwhelming them and not setting them up for failure,” she said.
Tietz shared these recommendations for those adopting pets:
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Give your dog time to de-stress after adopting. “Especially if you’re getting a dog from a rescue or a shelter. It is a very stressful environment and they need a few moments just to breathe and take in their new surroundings and new people and new animals in their lives and give them the time to decompress,” she said.
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As your new pet becomes calm, quickly start basic training. “Sit, come, stay. Those are the foundations for all other behavior, so slowly working those into their daily life. Crate training and potty training should happen from week one,” Tietz said.
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People with multiple dogs should try to train one at a time. “You bring a snack out and everybody flocks to you. So putting them in their crates in different rooms to help keep the distractions low,” Tietz said.
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Make sure your dog is getting enough food, water, attention and physical activity. That all helps them function normally.
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It’s also the law that they have their vaccinations, including rabies, and are micro-chipped.
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The key to avoiding conflict is also making sure to learn your dog’s specific body language. “Their body language of fear, versus their body language of comfort. And take that into account when we’re introducing our new dog to new family members. I definitely wouldn’t do it a day like Christmas or Thanksgiving where there’s going to be 20 members over and your dog might feel overwhelmed and stressed,” Tietz said.
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It’s okay to give your dog something distracting, like a toy or treats in a crate to relax, if the house is overwhelming, Tietz said.
Numerous resources are available for assistance with training and behavior, even for dogs with behavioral challenges.
“We offer classes for puppies, adult dogs and reactive dogs here on campus,” Tietz said.
Several times a month, ACS offers lecture-based classes as well. They’re called “Trainer Tuesdays.”
Tuesday, Dec. 17 is a public trivia night training (just for humans), which is a fun way to teach fast facts about dog training, cat training, and behavioral information about dogs and cats.
If you can’t attend, ACS has training videos on its YouTube page.
“We have lots of videos about staying safe in the neighborhood when you’re out on a walk with your dog, learning dog body language and other helpful tips and tricks when it comes to training your dog,” Tietz said.
For more information on upcoming classes including “Puppy 101″ and “Reactive Dogs,” email ACSTrainer@sanantonio.gov or click here.
Find all of KSAT’s reporting on this subject here.