Bark Busters Offers Safety Guidelines as Part of National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Bark Busters, the World's Largest, Most Trusted Dog Training Company, Provides Dog Safety Tips That Work for Parents, Children -- and Even U.S. Postal Service Letter Carriers

National Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 15-21

With National Dog Bite Prevention Week approaching (May 15-21), Bark Busters, the world's largest and most trusted dog training company, today offered as a public service helpful tips on how adults and children can reduce the risk of being bitten by strange or familiar dogs.

Nationwide statistics underscore the need to raise awareness around the dangerous problem of dog bites, and to educate the public about what can be done in the way of prevention. According to the American Veterinary Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.7 million Americans suffer from dog bites each year. The severity of the bites varies, but approximately 800,000 people each year are injured seriously enough to require medical attention, and 12 people die due to mortal wounds.

While these numbers are both staggering and alarming, some of the most surprising facts may be that 61 percent of dog bites occur within pet owners' homes, and 43 percent of all dog bites involve children being bitten by the family dog. Conscientious parents can significantly reduce these high incidence rates simply by learning some basic guidelines that will help their children avoid getting bitten by their own dogs.

"Many of the tips we give our clients are straightforward and appeal to one's common sense," explains Liam Crowe, Bark Busters' COO and dog behavioral therapist, "but they have proven very successful and are based on what we have experienced and learned over our 15 years of training dogs."

Bark Busters offers the following five safety tips for parents:

--Under no circumstances should a baby be left alone with a dog.

--Young children should never walk or feed the dog unsupervised.

--Do not allow a small child to discipline the dog.

--Prevent children from pulling on the dog's collar or aggressive or rough play.

--Train the entire family on the communications methods of a dogs' instinctual "pack" behavior, thus teaching the dog to be submissive through body language and voice control.

But once children wander beyond the safe confines of their own home, parents no longer have direct control. Therefore, Bark Busters recommends parents advise their children on how to behave around strange dogs. "As a general rule, children should be taught to never pet a strange dog, even if the owner is present," adds Crowe. "They should stay away from dogs that are eating or sleeping, and avoid dogs that have puppies. Dogs that are tied up should never be approached, and children should never retrieve a ball from an unfamiliar yard. If an aggressive-appearing dog runs at a child, the child should stand totally still, covering his or her face with the hands."

Of course, dog bites are not restricted to young children -- just ask any one of the 34,000 U.S. Postal Service letter carriers that were attacked last year. Bark Busters offers the following tips to help reduce the chances of adults being attacked by an approaching dog:

--Don't try to make friends with a dog.

--Stand still, stand tall and don't move a muscle until the dog loses interest in you -- don't try to run away.

--Allow the dog to smell you but don't put your hand out -- let the dog come close to you on its own terms.

--Face the dog at all times but don't make eye contact with the dog or stare -- it can be perceived as a sign of aggression.

--Back away slowly, watching the dog from the corner of your eye.

--If the dog knocks you down, roll up into a fetal position with your arms covering your head and neck and play dead; don't fight back.

Bark Busters dog behavioral therapists, such as Liam Crowe, are renowned authorities in the area of correcting dog behavior. The Bark Busters' training system can successfully train any dog, even puppies. The company's natural training technique leverages the same communications methods -- body language and voice control -- that dogs follow as part of their instinctual pack mentality. About 80 percent of Bark Buster clients require only one two-hour home visit from a licensed dog behavioral therapist, if they continue with just 10 to 15 minutes a day follow-up exercises for several weeks. All training takes place right in the home where the problems generally occur. And Bark Busters' training is the only service of its kind that is guaranteed for the life of the dog. In every market where Bark Busters is established, a majority of veterinarians familiar with the technique recommend the company's services.

Bark Busters is committed to teaching people how to communicate clearly with dogs -- not only to reduce the risk of dog bites but also to enhance owners' relationships with their dogs. Bark Busters has a fun and educational video (VHS) called "Dally Says" that teaches children and parents how to avoid dog bites. It is available for $12.00. For more information about the video or Bark Busters' training approach, call 1-877-280-7100 or visit www.barkbusters.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: To schedule an interview with a local Bark Busters Therapist (120 offices nationwide), please call Bill Marino at 303-988-5133 or visit www.barkbusters.com (on left, enter your zip code or state and click "Fetch.")

About Bark Busters

Bark Busters, the world's largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, over 250,000 dogs have been trained worldwide. With 120 franchised offices in 34 states and more than 200 offices in six countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment, and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers a lifetime guarantee. Therapists will provide future sessions free of charge if problem behaviors recur, or if any new problems develop. For more information, call 1-877-280-7100 or visit www.barkbusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs' behavior.