Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

Not only do we need to train our dogs to behave properly, we need to train ourselves safe dog practices. Just like with a dog, after a little practice, these things will be second nature. Don't forget to train the kids too.

NEVER leave a small child unsupervised with a pet or let your dog sleep in the baby‘s room. It is natural for a child to want to hug the dog, but dogs don't necessarily want to be hugged. The bite that may occur will most likely be in the face since this is the closest part to the dog. 77% of injuries to children are facial. That's approximately 44,000 per year. Remind your child not to pull on the dog's ears, tail, or fur and not to sit on the dog's back. Dogs don't like to be confused with horses.

Teach your child not to tease dogs behind fences. He may not be behind the fence when the child is passing through tomorrow.

Behave calmly around the dog. Excitement, loud voices, and anger may trigger a bite.

Avoid running past a strange dog. Keep in mind that you cannot out-run or out-bike a dog, so don't try.

Encourage children not to approach any dog that does not belong to them. Always ask permission from the dog's owner before petting. It's also a good idea to ask the owner to retrieve a lost item that may be on the dog's property.

Approach the dog calmly. Rapid movements may frighten or excite him.

Look at the dog's paws when you greet him. Some dogs may interpret a direct stare into his eyes as a challenge or threat. By looking at his front paws, you can still watch his expressions without eye contact.

Be sure the dog is aware you are approaching. Avoid walking up from behind as this may startle the dog. Senior dogs can have failing eyesight or hearing and may not realize you're close until you're too close, too fast.

Stand with your shoulder facing the dog. Sideways is less threatening to a dog and avoids the possibility of leaning over the dog.

Extend your hand held in a fist for the dog to sniff before touching. If the dog bites, damage would be less than if the fingers are extended and puppies are less likely to nip at a fist than fingers. Make sure not to move too fast or pull your hand away while he's sniffing. This may be considered a threat.

Crouch sideways to greet small dogs or dogs that are lying down. This is less intimidating and avoids bending over the dog.

Pet the dog on the side of the neck closest to you or on the chest. Some dogs find it threatening for the hand to come over its head.

Move your hand away slowly when finished petting a dog. Remember, sudden movements are intimidating.

Drop treats and toys in front of the dog. If you must let the dog retrieve an item from your hand, offer it with your hand flat.

Don't put your face right up to a dog's face. This may annoy the dog or you may receive a playful nip.

Avoid placing your hand into a car, crate, or pen where a dog is confined. He might bite out of fear or protecting his property.

Respect a dog while he's eating, drinking, chewing, or lying beside any object. Respect his nap time also. You could startle him or he may be dreaming of being a great hunter and you could end up as his prey.

Be cautious of a Mommy dog and with her puppies. The mommy dog can be very protective of her babies and may not understand that you only want to pet them.

NEVER try to physically break up a dog fight or interact with dogs that are play fighting. Spray them with a water hose if available. This will have them running in opposite directions and keep you safe.

Visit my next blog to learn how to tell a dog is losing his patience and what to do if approached by an angry dog.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got ME!

A dog's tendency to bite depends on such factors as heredity, obedience training, socialization, health, and the victim's behavior. Dogs believe that they own things. Their toys, food dishes, you. It is their natural instinct to protect their belongings. Their resting place and your property are also its possession. When it comes to children, the dog considers itself dominant. Sometimes, a little nip is nothing more than "behave" from the dog's point of view. It can also be a "hey, that hurt" when you accidentally step on its tail or pull on its ears. Accidental bites when you offer it food or a toy can be prevented by teaching the dog bite inhibition. He isn't trying to take your hand off in this situation, he simply doesn't understand that he is biting too hard. Serious injury often occurs when the dog is frightened and someone startles him. Of course, it's possible that he's just old or grumpy and having a bad day.

One key is responsible ownership. Keep your dog on a leash when it's outside, or in a fenced area. Remember that an electronic fence might keep your dog in your yard, but it won't keep people or other animals out. Make sure to ensure proper nutrition. A dog that isn't feeling well can be quite aggressive. We'll touch more on that later.

Start your dog with a strong foundation on which to build. Socialize him. Ordinarily loving dogs may bite out of fear of strangers. Teach your dog the basic obedience commands: "sit", "down", "heel", and "no". It's also a good idea to train your dog to drop its toys on command so that you don't have to reach into his mouth for them or to retrieve items that they shouldn't have. While you're training, teach him not to jump on or paw at you for attention.

Don't set your dog up for failure. Be cautious when introducing your dog to new situations and be ready to respond to any signs of the dog being uncomfortable. Avoid situations where your dog could feel threatened or be teased. Don't play aggressive games such as tug-of-war, chase-me, or wrestling with your dog and expect him to NOT get aggressive. Find non-contact games that your dog can enjoy without getting overly excited. Don't encourage aggressive behavior or barking.

Visit my next blog to learn safe behavior practices around our canine friends.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behaviors

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got ME!

Dogs are great, aren't they? What would you do without your dog? He's always there when you need him. He calms your mood, is a great playmate, and hunting companion. And regardless of what your husband or wife is mad at you for, your dog still loves you!

We have shared our lives with dogs for over 12,000 years. More than 53 million dogs in the US have human families! That's about 1 in 3 homes. Evidence shows that this companionship has contributed substantially to our quality of life. They truly are "man's best friend".

So, why are we here? We have invited you to my blog today to talk a little about dog bite prevention. Dog bites have become a serious public health problem in the United States. The number of dog bite instances continues to climb. About every 40 seconds someone in the US seeks medical attention for a dog bite related injury. Nearly 5 million incidents of dog bites are reported each year with nearly 800,000 of those requiring medical treatment. The majority of dog bites are never reported.

Statistically speaking

About 70% of dog bites occur on the owner's property. Outdoor dogs are more likely to bite than indoor dogs because they are more socialized. With that being said, a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite. Believe it or not, dogs with identifiable owners bite more frequently than "strays". Only 10 -20% of dog bite victims don't know the dog that bit them.

Although all do not require medical attention, approximately ½ of all children are bitten by a dog before they hit the teenage years. According to the American Medical Association, dog bites are the second leading cause of childhood injury. That's about 20% more kids injured by a dog than playground accidents. Approximately 60% of all dog bite victims are children under the age of 12, especially boys between 5 and 9. Watch out guys, males are 2 times more likely to get bitten than females, regardless of your age. When a child less than 4 is the victim, the family dog was the attacker half the time and the attack most always happened in the family home. People over 70 comprise 10% of those bitten and 20% of those killed.

Dog bites cost society well over $1 billion a year and account for a most 1/3 of all homeowner's insurance liability claims. Our insurance companies are paying out roughly $1 billion per year alone. That averages about $17,000 per claim. Medical costs for dog bite victims is more than $165 million a year. Added to the cost are medical insurance claims, worker's comp claims, lost wages, and sick leave.

So, which dogs bite? Any of them! The media likes to portray big dogs as the aggressors, but that isn't necessarily true. It only appears as though large dogs are the problem because naturally, a bigger dog has a bigger bite. That's not to say that small dogs can't cause injury, however. Children could be at greater risk from breeds with reputations for nice temperaments and little furry balls of love since they tend to be less cautious with these than big dogs. Not to pick on a particular breed, but studies have shown that Pit Bulls make up 1-3% of the overall dog population and are reported to cause more than 50% of serious attacks. When they bite, 1 in 16 will inflict serious injury. There is an 8 of 10 chance that the biting dog is male, with a 6 out of 10 chance that he hasn't been neutered. Any dog that hasn't been sterilized is 3 times more likely to bite. Dogs between 1 and 5 yrs. seem to be more involved in dog bite instances.

Visit my next blog to find out what makes your cuddly friend want to bite.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behaviors

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got Me!

It's the time of year in Lebanon Missouri when things are heating up. Today has been a beautiful day with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70's. Yes, Spring is right around the corner.

Not only are things getting warmer with the weather, they are in the Real Estate Market as well. As of this afternoon, there were seven hundred, thirty four (734) properties listed with the Lebanon Board of REALTORS. That's $116,122,555 worth of land, commercial, industrial, multifamily, and residential property just waiting for the right people to come along and snag them up.

If you're thinking about purchasing a home for your family, now is definately the time! The interest rates are still fairly low and there is plenty to choose from. Four hundred and twenty nine (429) of these listings are residential homes ranging in price from $25,000 to $1,400,000. That's an median price of $137,500.

Curious about what's available in your price range? Allow me to break it down for you.

$0-$50,000 35 Listings

$50,001-$100,00 107 Listings

$100,001-$150,000 103 Listings

$150,001-$200,000 62 Listings

$200,001-$250,000 34 Listings

$250,001-$300,000 39 Listings

$300,001-$400,000 20 Listings

$400,001+ 29 Listings

Visit my website to find your dream home today.

Are you looking for a place to get away, a place to hang out for a little while? Maybe a place to go on a Saturday night that has live music without the alcohol? A place to sit down with a great cup of coffee and free wifi? You'll find it at Django's Coffee House.

The name is deceiving. Django's is much more than just a coffee house. In my opinion, they serve the best lunch in town at very reasonable prices. Whether you're in the mood for Honey Pecan Chicken Salad or Lasagna, this is the place to go. They feature daily specials, such as Homemade Chicken & Dumplings, Lasagna, Chicken Pot Pie, and Ham & Beans, just to name a few.

Popping in for a cup of joe on your way to the office? Don't forget to pick up one of the best scones you'll ever taste (being a chocoholic, I enjoy the Chocolate Chunk Scone). If you're in the mood for a real breakfast sandwich, try egg, cheese, and a meat of your choice on either a bagel, biscuit, or croissant, or have a Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Wrap.

I was looking for a place to go on a Friday and Saturday night where I could be entertained without having alcohol involved. I found it here. Friday nights, beginning at 7:00 are "open mic" nights. Our local talent is amazing! The place is full of energy on Saturday nights, as the sound of live music fills the place. They have awesome bands such as 11th Hour and Refined By Fire, just to name a few.

Whether you're looking for a place to work, study, a business luncheon, family outing, entertainment, or a place where you can relax and read a book, Django's Coffee House is an Awesome Place In Lebanon & Laclede County MO.

For more information, visit www.djangoscoffee.com.