An estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, but beginning Sunday, May 19, Dog Bite Prevention Week aims to make people more aware of how to prevent more injury.

Records indicate that Cocker Spaniels produce the most bites, while Rottweilers, pitbulls and German Shepherds are known to have highest percentage of bite-related fatalities. Programs and officials suggest that some of these attacks can be avoided by simply being prepared.

Though Dog Bite Prevention Week is not widely recognized, with the warmer weather and more dogs being out, it’s a good time to take notice and take precautions for kids, adults, owners and even dogs.

This year’s theme for dog bite prevention is “Be a Tree.” It suggests that, if a dog approaches unprovoked, doing nothing will make it go away. “If a strange dog does run up, stand still like a tree, look away and nine times out of 10 the dog will run away,” said Darla McCammon, executive director at the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.

Local dog psychologist and behaviorist Brian Gagye, however, said that is not a full-proof plan. “The sad truth is, if you’re going to get bit, you’re going to get bit,” he stated bluntly. “We have all our different theories about if you do this or that then you’re not going to get bit. From my point of view, if that dog sets out of bite you, there’s not a whole lot you can do.”

In his classes, Gagye offers some very adult advice for worst case scenarios, including if shelter is nearby, attempting to outrun the dog to safety, placing deterrents in its pathway and, if all else fails, grabbing the dog to prevent more extensive injuries after a bite has already taken place.

“I’m not talking about your average aggressive dog, like if a dog’s growling at you and you’re trying to shoo them away,” he said. He added that a dog simply growling may not be cause for concern.

When that’s the case, many trainers and animal welfare agencies encourage the “Be a Tree” theme, along with some other advice to protect kids from strange dogs.

“If the owner is not around and you don’t know the dog, don’t pet it,” McCammon said. “As long as the owner is there and the owner says it’s okay, if should be fine.”

She added “If you have a pet that is acting aggressively toward children, you might want to advise children not to come near your pet. A protection dog is one thing, but an aggressive dog is another.”

For owners who aren’t sure of the difference, presumed “guard dogs” can be dangerous.

“Even in the protection world, we consider an attack dog like a loaded gun. You’re not going to walk around the store with your gun out and finger on the trigger,” Gagye said. “I recommend that if you’ve got an aggressive dog you go to training really quick, figure out what’s going on in your pooch’s mind and try to help them through it.”

He stated that many times, there are unseen psychological or physical traumas behind an aggressive dog and that, assuming they aren’t mentally disabled, the majority of dogs can be rehabilitated.

According to Gagye, there is a checklist of sorts that an owner should go through when determining why the dog may be aggressive, including a trip to the veterinarian. “Dogs mostly communicate through body language,” he said. “How else can they tell you that they’re uncomfortable? A lot of times, you can fix these minor aggressive dogs with a trip to the vet.”

Things like dandruff, allergies, rashes and even dietary problems can influence a dog’s attitude. “It’s like us, if you put bad food in, you’re going to get bad performance,” he said. “If you’re feeding bad food, that dog might modify his behavior accordingly because he’s not feeling good.”

A University of Florida study found that dogs mirror and modify behaviors based on their environment, meaning that if an owner has post-traumatic stress disorder or anger problems, the dog in the household is more likely to experience similar anxiety or anger. “They can learn to be aggressive if there’s a lot of hostility in the home because they’re like children,” Gagye said. “If you’re going to attempt to rehabilitate the aggression, it’s a very long process” and it’s all about changing the habit.

But for owners of aggressive dogs, training may save a dog’s life in the long run. Dogs that bite must be detained for 10 days, a police report must be filed within 72 hours of the incident, an owner may be liable for dog bite injuries and in some cases the dog may be euthanized.

“As an owner, you really don’t want your dog to bite someone,” McCammon said.