All dogs can behave in an unpredictable manner and care should always be taken when attending any premises where dogs are known or likely to be. Every dog is a unique individual with their own behaviours formed by a multitude of factors including breed, age, individual personality, medical issues and prior experiences.
Even if you are comfortable and experienced with dogs never assume that you can predict how a dog will react when you encounter them in a contract holder’s home or garden. In addition, even if you are familiar with a particular dog, events that took place shortly before your visit may affect that dog’s behaviour.
Most dog bites take place while entering or leaving a property or while entering or leaving a room within a house. In many situations the dog owner is present.
Arrangements for the securing of the dog should be made in advance with the Contract Holder and if this is not agreed to you should consider whether the visit is essential or if the purposes could be achieved in an alternative fashion. In addition, dog owners should be asked not to encourage the visitor to meet or interact with a dog. Our procedures for avoiding dogs should be explained to the dog owner prior to the visit.
It is recommended that you do not enter a home where a dog is present, unless the dog is kept/put separately and securely. Always ensure that you have a risk assessment in place, follow your personal safety training and dynamically assess the situation.
The following points should be followed :
- When making appointments for yourself, or on behalf of any other colleague, you MUST ask if there is a dog in the home.
- Please check the WARN database before visits or request this information
- Once at the property please ask if there is a dog present. If there is, you will instruct the Contract Holder to ensure that the dog is secured safely and appropriately in a separate room before colleague enter the home.
- You also need to advise that the dog is not to be released until our colleague has left the property. Please be clear that if this is not followed the colleague will not enter.
- If you attend a home and the contract holder refuses to secure the dog you must NOT enter. Tell the Contract Holder that you will not be able to enter and seek advice from your manager and/or the Safeguarding Team.
- Leave the property or situation if you feel unsafe at any time and contact your manager and the Safeguarding Team
- Report any concerns to your line manager and complete an incident report Safeguarding and Health and Safety
- Wearing appropriate PPE such as long robust work trousers can help to protect your legs and lessen an injury in the event of an incident
The advice below is not exhaustive and if in doubt about your safety you should leave the premises as safely as possible.
Each situation is different and so requires you to undertake a dynamic risk assessment of (and constantly review) the situation.
- When visiting a property, it is safest to presume, unless you know otherwise, that a dog may be present and loose in the property. This is true even if you believe that you have the owner’s prior assurance that the dog will be safely secured. You may also be able to determine the presence of a dog by observing the surrounding property for evidence of dog toys, leads, food bowls, excrement etc.
- Never enter premises and/or garden where a dog is loose.
- Prior to the visit, call the owner reminding them to keep their dog in a separate area. When you knock on a door stand well back, whilst remaining calm and relaxed.
- DO NOT put your hands through a letter box over or through fences/gaps etc. If you need to deliver any post or leaflets etc, you should use a posting peg. In addition, it is also suggested workers wear long trousers as dog-related injuries could include scratches and nips which can be protected against.
- If the you have been previously unaware of the presence of a dog, and have any concerns for your safety, you should always ask the owner to either leash/secure the dog and or remove it from the room/garden. If the owner refuses, then you may wish to leave the premises and/or area and consider alternative options for completing the task and discuss the matter with your manager.
- Do not accept a dog owner’s assurance that it will not harm you.
- Be alert for signs that indicate a dog may be worried or uncomfortable. These include ears back, licking its lips, cowering, yawning, moving away, avoiding contact, snarling or growling. RSPCA Understanding Dog Behaviour. (Appendix 1)
- Never over-estimate a dog’s tolerance. Every dog has its limits and if it feels worried, scared or hurt may use aggressive behaviour.
- Try to remain calm, quiet and relaxed around any dog, keeping your tone neutral and calm with slow movements
- If a dog approaches in a friendly way, stand still so that the dog can sniff you. Do not hold out your hand either open palm or closed palm, keep your arms by your side. There should be no need to stroke or physically interact with a dog.
- Do not bring any treats with you on your visit. Treats may tempt a nervous dog outside of the space where they feel comfortable, inadvertently putting pressure on a dog. In addition, a dog may soon get used to approaching visitors, and another visitor may not be aware of it and could be in a situation where a dog is approaching and expecting treats, when they don’t have any.
- It would be beneficial to know where the dog is settled whilst conducting your visit. If you become worried at any point, stay still, calm and quiet and ask the owner to remove them. If necessary, you can suggest distracting them using a toy or treat, before slowly and calmly making your exit without having to approach the dog. When leaving the property, even if a dog was friendly during the visit, ask the owner to remove the dog as they may behave differently in the corridor/front door.
- If a dog jumps up at you, cross your arms, turn and look away. If you get knocked over, curl up in a ball and cover your head with your arms until the dog is removed. If a dog does attack, and you have a bag or coat you can use this to redirect the dog onto this and away from your body.
- DO NOT hurry away – this may trigger the chase instinct, walk away calmly.
- DO NOT glare at the dog, shout, make sudden movements or kick out – these actions may frighten a dog and they may behave aggressively in response.
- When out in the community it is safer to assume that any dog would prefer to be left alone and be cautious with it.
- If a person is threatening and or using their dog as a means of intimidation, then leave the premises/area and report the matter to your manager, Safeguarding Team, Health and Safety and where required to the Police.
- Report all bites or near misses to your manager, Safeguarding Team and Health and Safety. Some incidents will also need to be reported the Police to make risk visible to others visiting the premises in the future.
See also: RSPCA – what to do when you meet an unfamiliar dog
Appendix one in this guidance gives you an idea of simple dog body language and behaviour
Appendix 1 – Understanding Dog Behaviour
