"No..but that's not my dog." We've all heard the joke. But a dogbite is nothing to joke about.......

Close to 1 million people are bitten by a dog each year. And an average of 1 dozen die from it. More than 60% of these are children. There are things you can do to prevent this from happening.

• Carefully consider the type of dog you want. Some breeds are naturally agressive, while others are a nervous type and not suitable for young children.

• Socialize your dog as a young pup. Expose your puppy to all situations...people, children, crowds.

• Train you dog. Commands such as 'sit' and 'stay' will help you to control your dog better. Never play aggressive games with your dog such as tug-of-war or wrestling.

• Keep your dog up to date on all shots and boosters.

• Spay or neuter your dog. This makes them less likely to bite.

• Be alert. Know your dog. Watch for signs that your dog in uncomfortable and remove him from the situation.

How can I avoid being bitten?

• Be cautious around strange dogs.

• NEVER leave a baby or child with a dog unattended! And teach your children to respect the dog and always ask permission before petting a strange dog.

• Don't run past a dog. It is natural for a dog to chase things.

• Never approach a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.

• If a dog sniffs at you...remain still. It will usually sense that you are not a threat and go away.

• If you are threatened, remain calm. Avoid eye contact. Stay still until the dog leaves or slowly back away...never turn your back on a dog and run.

• If you are knocked to the ground...curl into a ball and cover your head and neck with your arms. Protect your face.

If your dog bites someone......

• Restrain and confine the dog immediately.

• Check on the victim's condition. Wash with soap and water. Seek a doctor to access the risk of rabies. Call 911 if the bite is bad enough.

• Give the victim all the important information necessary. Your name, address, phone, date of your dog's most recent rabies vaccination. If your dog is not current on his rabies shots, it may be necessary to quarantine you dog and have rabies testing done.

• Report the bite to your insurance company.

• Follow your local laws in reporting dog bites.

• Consult your vet.

If you are the victim......

• If it was your dog....confine it and call your vet and check the vaccination records.

• If someone else's dog bites you... contact the local authorities and give them all the information you have on the dog. Owners name (if possible), color, size, location of the incident. It may help animal control locate the dog.