A TOP dog trainer has warned of the dangers of canine attacks after record numbers of maulings in the UK. 

University of Winchester graduate Jade Nicholas has set out the dos and don'ts of how to approach dogs to minimise the risk of aggression.

Jade started dog training after completing a BA (Hons) in Animal Welfare & Society in 2019.

From there, she moved into animal behaviour and completed a MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Lincoln in 2022.

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Some dogs are more dangerous than others (Image: Police Scotland)

She has successfully trained hundreds of dogs, and has triaged thousands during her 18 months on the Dogs Trust Behaviour Support Line.

She reached the pinnacle of her career earlier this summer when she became a clinical animal behaviourist with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and joined the ABTC register.

Now she has released some top tips after killings by dogs rose by 800 per cent from 2019 to 2023 – last year a total of 16 people in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Jane's dos and don'ts are as follows: 

DO: Learn to approach dogs safely (and always ask first) – For some reason we as humans have a habit of approaching dogs with our hand held out, or even more frequently we reach our hand over their head. This approach is actually very confrontational to dogs and if you see these interactions as an outsider you will often see the dog shrinking away or freezing. To approach a dog safely we would do better to ask the handler first and then allow the dog to approach us. Dogs can smell us from a huge distance away so we do not need to hold out our hands, but once they’ve chosen to interact with us it’s much safer to approach from the side and pat their shoulder or chest.

DON’T: Approach dogs when they have valuable resources – If you were eating in a restaurant and someone came to take your food away before you finished, you’d be pretty annoyed, right? The same goes for dogs and their valued resources. Of course this includes food, but also their toys, beds and ‘treasure’ found on the floor. Leave them in peace, or swap for something rewarding if you have to.

DO: Learn about canine body language and communication – Dogs have adapted incredibly well to read and communicate with humans. Sadly, we have not advanced so much in our abilities! Subtle signs such as lip licking, yawning and blinking (in context) can be indicators that a dog is uncomfortable, but these signs often go ignored. Organisations like Dogs Trust have plenty of resources for learning to read body language.

DON’T: Man-handle your dog – I see a huge amount of conflict when people try to forcibly move their dog. This includes lifting them when resting, dragging by the collar and generally pushing and shoving them around. In these situations dogs will understandably feel helpless, and some will bite. It is much safer to take a “hands off” approach, have a strong response to name and teach them that moving when asked earns them a reward.

DO: Leave dogs alone when they are resting – Going on from the point above, you should always avoid moving a dog when they are resting. Dogs bite when startled, but they may also be stiff and painful once they’ve been in one place for a while.

DON’T: Wait to contact an accredited and qualified behaviourist – The prognosis for a dog who is showing aggression is much better when caught early. If you suspect that your dog is a bite risk I encourage you to contact an accredited and qualified behaviourist as soon as you can. Sadly, this industry is not regulated and there is a lot of harmful misinformation about. So, I would always encourage owners to seek help from a Clinical Animal Behaviourist on the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) register.