Three Things to Know
Since January 2008, a targeted dog safety school program has been implemented in Graz, Austria. This study evaluates the program’s effectiveness by analyzing the city’s dog bite injury statistics over time.
The analysis compared data from 2014-2018 (well after program implementation) against a baseline period of 1994-2003. It revealed a significant decrease in severe outcomes in the recent period: injuries requiring surgery dropped from 26% to 8%, and hospital admissions fell from 27.5% to 9%.
Further examination of the 2014-2018 data showed that most biting dogs were large breeds, with the Dachshund being the only small breed commonly identified in incidents. Importantly, the dog was familiar to the child in 69% of cases, including nearly a quarter of bites which involved the family’s own dog.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
Multiple studies confirm that preschoolers’ knowledge of dog safety improves following even brief educational programs. While definitively proving that such education directly leads to a reduction in the number and severity of dog bites is challenging, the observed decrease in bite severity, as seen in this Graz, Austria study, is encouraging. These collective findings strongly suggest that dog welfare organizations should develop and implement targeted bite prevention programs for children.
Furthermore, given that nearly 70% of reported bites involved a dog familiar to the child, educational initiatives must emphasize this critical point. Dog welfare advocates should ensure their programs teach children to consistently apply safety rules, even when interacting with familiar dogs.
The Full Picture
Dog bites pose a significant and persistent public health issue, especially among children. Despite most bites involving familiar dogs in home settings, prevention efforts often focus on public incidents and equipment like leashes. Understanding the context and causes of dog bites is crucial for effective prevention. The researchers launched a targeted awareness campaign in Austria starting January 2008, and this study, titled “Child safety programs for primary school children decrease the injury severity of dog bites”, evaluates its effectiveness after 10 years.
Study Methods
Prevention Program
A long-term dog bite prevention program was launched in Graz, Austria, in 2008, targeting primary school children aged 6–9. The program reached around 80% of children (1,800-2,000 children) annually and focused on safe behavior around dogs. Activities included school workshops, visits to a child safety center (“Bärenburg”), and special training sessions with dog professionals. Educational materials were widely distributed, and the workshops taught children how to approach dogs safely and respond to potential threats.
Data Collection
Data were collected from the only pediatric trauma center in Graz, covering dog bite cases from 2014 to 2018 in children under 15. These numbers are compared to dog bite cases in the period 1994 to 2003. Injury severity was classified into minor and severe categories. Breed-related risk was assessed using updated dog breed registration data to avoid bias.
Study Results
Between 2014 and 2018, a study examined 296 children with dog-related injuries. Of these, 212 children (72%) had suffered dog bites. Most injuries (75%) occurred in children aged 0–10, evenly affecting both males and females. Incidents peaked in summer, especially July, and on Sundays. Non-bite injuries (28%) were often caused by leash-related accidents or playful interactions.
The vast majority of these bites (92%) were classified as minor and typically affected the extremities or the head. Compared to data from 1994 to 2003, this recent period showed a significant decrease in severe outcomes: injuries requiring surgery dropped from 26% to 8%, and hospital admissions fell from 27.5% to 9%.
Children with head injuries were significantly younger (average 4.6 years) than those with limb injuries. Although the average number of dog bites per year remained similar, injury severity and hospitalization rates declined.
Dog breed data were available in 86% of bite cases. Most biting dogs were large breeds, with the Dachshund as the only small breed noted. In 69% of cases, the dog was familiar to the child, and nearly a quarter involved the family’s own dog.
Conclusion
The study confirms that most dog attacks on children happen at home and involve familiar, often large-breed dogs. Severe injuries have significantly decreased, compared to a previous period. While many risk factors are hard to change (e.g., breed, dog age), education has proven effective. Authorities should promote awareness and implement widespread educational programs to help prevent bite incidents.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Owned Dogs > Offering Better Care > Youth Education Programs
Year of Publication:
2021
External Link:
Kienesberger, B., Arneitz, C., Wolfschluckner, V. et al. Child safety programs for primary school children decrease the injury severity of dog bites. Eur J Pediatr 181, 709–714 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04256-z