Dog biting incidents have long been common. In many places such as rural areas, dogs are almost always free-roaming. These dogs live quite freely; they can visit around to play and can bark fiercely at strangers. What dog owners worry about most is the dog biting someone and causing trouble. So how can we prevent free-roaming dogs from biting people? And how should bystanders protect themselves?

　　1. Methods to Train Free-Roaming Dogs Not to Bite

　　Some breeds are naturally aggressive, like terriers, mastiffs, and Dobermans. However, dogs of these breeds can still become cheerful and friendly companions if they receive good behavioral training. Breeds like German Shepherds and Great Danes have naturally friendly temperaments, but if owners spoil them too much and neglect discipline, they may become very dangerous.

　　Owners should expose dogs to strangers outdoors in a safe environment and let strangers feed them. If the dog barks loudly or bares teeth, it must be corrected immediately. You can pull the leash sharply, scold loudly, or spray it with water. Do not hit the dog, or it may lose trust in its owner. When it stops barking, praise, pet, or reward it with treats right away. During training, the collar should be tight and placed below the dog's ears so it feels restrained.

　　Obedience training should be strengthened, including commands like sit, lie down, stand, shake hands, lie on the ground, heel, recall, and wait. This training should be done daily but not too long to avoid causing irritation. Commands should be simple, clear, and strict. This cultivates the dog's patience and stability.

　　If the dog shows little hostility outdoors, try training at home. Provide the dog with a separate quiet space, such as a doghouse or dogbed, preferably in the living room so the dog can always see the owner. When guests come, let the dog stay in its own place. If it barks, stop it and praise it when it quiets down. You can also give toys or chew sticks to distract the dog.

　　Actually, the best way is to hand the dog over to a professional pet behavior training center. After a few months, you will have a pet dog with good sociability, obedience, and a cheerful personality. Before training, be sure to clearly explain the dog's character and habits to the trainer so they can devise a training plan accordingly. After training, it’s crucial that the owner strictly controls the dog's behavior and persists with daily training to prevent relapse.

　　2. Measures to Prevent Free-Roaming Dogs from Biting

　　1. It is Recommended to Capture or Shelter

　　To completely eliminate injuries caused by free-roaming dogs, capturing or sheltering these dogs is currently the most effective method. In areas with frequent or emerging rabies outbreaks, it is best to capture and kill all free-roaming dogs entering communities to prevent dog bites that may infect humans with rabies. If the local area has no rabies epidemic or history of outbreaks, sheltering free-roaming dogs is feasible where conditions permit.

　　2. Avoid Feeding Dogs in Residential Areas

　　Avoid feeding free-roaming dogs inside residential communities. Residents who feed free-roaming dogs should be advised to stop or feed them in unpopulated areas.

　　3. Do Not Throw Leftover Food into Trash Bins

　　Many free-roaming dogs enter communities because trash piles and bins contain large amounts of discarded leftover food. To reduce the presence of free-roaming dogs in communities, avoid disposing of leftover food in residential trash.

　　4. Educate Children Not to Tease Free-Roaming Dogs

　　Among free-roaming dog bite incidents, many victims are children. Some children don't understand that free-roaming dogs are different from family pets and may tease, pet, or even provoke them, which can easily anger the dogs and cause injury. Therefore, children must be strictly taught not to provoke free-roaming dogs.

　　5. Do Not Recklessly Use Tools to Drive Away Free-Roaming Dogs

　　Some people shout loudly or use tools to chase away free-roaming dogs in communities. Dogs can easily become angry when shouted at; if the shouter is unarmed, they may be injured. So do not shout at free-roaming dogs recklessly. Also, some free-roaming dogs hold grudges; if you use a tool to drive them away once, next time when you don’t have a tool, they may attack in retaliation. Therefore, except for capture or killing, do not recklessly use tools to drive away free-roaming dogs.

　　6. Do Not Shine Flashlights into the Dog’s Eyes

　　At night, do not shine flashlights or other strong lights into a dog’s eyes because it can provoke hostility in free-roaming dogs and lead to aggressive attacks.

　　7. Do Not Stare into the Eyes of Free-Roaming Dogs

　　Free-roaming dogs interpret direct eye contact as hostility or provocation, which may trigger them to attack.

　　8. Do Not Panic or Run Away

　　When confronted with a dog, do not panic, scream, or run. Stay calm and stand still. Running shows fear, which the dog can sense, prompting immediate attack. Do not flail your limbs, as dogs may mistake movements as an attack and will counterattack.

　　If your dog must be free-roaming and has a history of biting, and the training results are not ideal, it is recommended to buy a sturdy muzzle for your dog. This way, the dog cannot bite people.