All dogs need to be trained, owners told

More people have been injured by dogs in Northland than by any other animal. Photo / File

Injuries caused by animals led to more than $3.3 million of ACC costs in Northland last financial year, with dogs the main offenders, prompting a call from experts for dog owners to better train their pets.

Injuries from dogs, horses and cattle were the three top claims - totalling $3,374,356 - but Northlanders are more likely to be injured by dogs than any other animal. Dogs were cited in 1031 Accident Compensation Corporation claims in Northland last financial year worth $562,925. The figures included all injuries involving the animals, not just attacks.

Horses were the second most commonly cited animal in injury claims, though at much greater cost. Horses were mentioned in 533 Northland claims, worth $1,359,204.

However, cattle cost ACC more than any other animal in Northland last year. The 308 injuries they contributed to cost $1,452,227.

Environmental Northland manager Keith Thompson - who runs dog control for Whangarei and Kaipara - said dogs were generally intelligent animals, but would chase or snap at people to defend or assert themselves, so they could be dangerous.

"People often forget that dogs evolved from wolves and retain a number of their behaviours. While your dog might be obedient and friendly, they can - and will - bite as a defence, as a fear reaction, or simply because something is annoying them."

Mr Thompson said dogs often became aggressive when they were tied up for long periods of time, not exercised, not fed enough, not given vet treatment, not neutered or not loved. It was uncommon for a dog to attack for no reason and the cause usually related to what owners did or did not do.

Training for dogs and owners could prevent attacks. Basic commands were only part of the training. Dogs needed to learn their place in a family. "If the dog does not know its place it may bite to show that it thinks it deserves to be higher up the ladder," Mr Thompson said.

He said attacks on family members were often not reported to authorities.

"Any dog attack can have a long lasting impact on the victim and their family. To prevent this, we recommend every dog and dog owner gets training, which will greatly improve the chances of everyone in their community staying safe and happy."

Whangarei SPCA general manager Francine Shields said it was an owner's responsibility to make sure their dog was socialised from an early age.

People should also be careful about how they approached dogs, she said. They shouldn't approach a dog directly, make direct eye contact, surprise them or reach over their head. If they wanted to touch a dog they should put their palm upwards underneath the dog's chest or chin after asking the owner's permission.

"How you approach will denote how the dog responds to you," she said.

Ms Shields, also a dog trainer with the Whangarei Dog Training Association, recommended dog training for all owners. Training included dog socialisation and learning to read your dog.