NSW has recorded 153 more dog attacks and an expert is blaming Covid lockdowns

NSW recorded 153 more dog attacks in the first 10 months of last year and dog aggression expert Mark Ehrman blames the pandemic and higher expectations in social situations.

NSW recorded 153 more dog attacks in the first 10 months of last year and dog aggression expert Mark Ehrman blames the pandemic and higher expectations in social situations.

The Canine Counselling dog trainer and dog aggression expert said puppies people got at the beginning of Covid were now coming into social and sexual maturity.

“They didn’t get that wide exposure, they didn’t get puppy school, they didn’t get all of that early socialisation, he said.

“And now they’re coming into social and sexual maturity and this fear and aggression is coming out, and we’re getting more dog attacks.”

He said people were also “asking more and more of dogs these days”.

“We’re asking these dogs to be okay at the pub with people dropping chips on the ground, and at cafes with little kids running around screaming – we’re just asking so much more of our dogs these days, and some dogs struggle to cope with those situations,” he said.

Dogs are being expected to be okay with more social situations today, an expert claims.

We’re just asking so much more of our dogs these days, an expert claims. Picture: Justin Lloyd

NSW recorded 3610 dog attacks between January and September last year, figures from the Office of Local Government reveal.

Sydney’s Northern Beaches saw one of the biggest increases, with 24 people attacked between April 1 and June 30 (10 of which were serious attacks), and 37 people attacked between July-September (nine serious).

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said council took dog attacks “very seriously”, and encouraged people to report attacks to council as soon as possible.

“They are traumatic for all involved and can cause serious and permanent injury to people or other animals,” she said.

“Dog owners are always legally responsible for their dog’s actions, whether in an off-leash dog park, at your home, or on a lead.”

Mark Ehrman says dogs won’t typically won’t attack for no reason.

The Weekend Telegraph understands that the rise in Northern Beaches dog attacks could also be a result of increased dog ownership in the area, as well as better weather bringing more people and their pooches out and about.

The City of Sydney also saw a rise from the April-June quarter, with the number rising from 18 dog attacks on people (nine serious) to 29 attacks (12 serious) in July-September.

Figures for the October-December quarter aren’t out yet but Central Coast Council revealed that despite an increase in people attacked between their April and June quarters (53 to 61 dog attacks), the number did fall to 34 for the October-December quarter.

Mr Ehrman said “dogs do things for a reason”, and typically won’t attack for no reason.

“Aggression is a very high cost behaviour for dogs to enter into. So, to get to the point of making contact and causing injury is a pretty high cost for the dog. They don’t enter into it lightly,” he said.

In some cases, dogs can attack based on fear — a fight or flight situation — or from a place of trauma.

In other cases, there are things people can do to avoid being attacked, with Mr Ehrman suggesting that people not stand over dogs and look down on them.

He added that patting dogs for five seconds and then giving them an opportunity to move away is always a good idea, as well as not holding back a dog that’s trying to get something.
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