Training needed to stop attack 'epidemic'

The latest ACC figures show 246 claims were made in Wairarapa for dog-related injuries in 2014 - an increase from the 237 claims recorded the previous year.

There were more people injured by man's best friend in Wairarapa last year than in 2013, ACC statistics reveal.

The data shows 246 claims were made in Wairarapa for dog-related injuries in 2014 - an increase from the 237 claims recorded the year before. More claims from 2014 could still be added in the next few weeks.

"Dog-related injuries" cover all claims for accidental injuries whenever a dog was involved.

Wairarapa dog trainer Elayne Hand said dog attacks were an "epidemic on the rise".

"It's not just dog bites that are on the increase, it's dog behavioural issues that are on the increase as well. It's a major epidemic. What you hear about in the paper is nothing," she said.

"The attacks that are actually reported are just the tip of the iceberg because a lot of people don't report attacks.

"It doesn't help that a lot of people are now turning to Mr Google for information on how to treat their dogs which can lead to misinformation."

There were a number of reasons why dogs attacked people but lack of knowledge about dogs and their behaviours was largely to blame, she said.

"A lot of it is the fact that people are too blase, they don't treat dogs properly and, in a lot of respects, they treat their dogs like children. Dogs are dogs and they need to be treated like dogs.

"A lot of attacks happen because people aren't educated enough and that's dog owners as well as the general public," she said.

"People aren't aware of the safety issues. Most dog bites are preventable and down to human error.

"For example, going up to a parked car with a dog in it and putting your hand in the window to pat the dog is a stupid human mistake."

Ms Hand says New Zealand dog owners need to be more proactive about training their dogs and socialising them when they are puppies to prevent attacks.

Nationally there were 14,901 claims made for dog-related injuries across New Zealand in 2014 - a drop of 94 from 2013.

ACC spokeswoman Stephanie Melville said most claims were for minor injuries.

"The three most common injuries are laceration, soft tissue injury and dental injury - for example, when Fido jumps up excitedly and hits your chin or mouth," she said. "Given we're a country of animal lovers with a doggy population of approximately 700,000, with around 29 per cent of us being dog-owning homes, it can be a case of the minority - dogs and dog owners - giving the majority a bad rap."

New Zealand Kennel Club president Clyde Rogers said New Zealanders were becoming more aware of dog-related injuries.

"I don't know that there has been a change [in the number of attacks] but there is certainly growing awareness of dog attacks and that is partially due to a growing dog population, growing awareness and more media coverage so it is a self-perpetuating story," he said.

"As a result, people tend to be a lot more aware of the issue of dogs and the potential risks related to them."

When there were attacks, mixed-breed dogs were the most likely culprits, he said.

"The fact is that a lot of dog bites are not from pure-bred dogs. Invariably when you cross-breed dogs you have problems around temperament.

"Having said that, any dog can potentially bite. It is about environment and training."NZME.