Research
Here you will find the scientific research publications relating to safety around dogs that have been published by our partnership members. Our research includes improving understanding of contexts in which bites occur as well as perceptions of dog bites, which could influence engagement with bite prevention and interactions with dogs.
Our Research
Using civil claim enquiry data to understand the context and impact of dog-related injuries in England and Wales between 2017 and 2024 (2026)
Tulloch, J.S.P., Aherne, G., Moxey-Butler, J., McNally, J. Injury Prevention
‘We’re not professionals when it comes to dogs:’ Social work encounters with dogs and their implications for education and practice (2025)
Turner, D. The British Journal of Social Work.
A walk with “that wild dog of yours”: tales of circumscribed, co-negotiated and adaptive walking practices (2024)
O’Hare, P. Social and Cultural Geography.
Welsh hospital admissions due to dog bites and strikes (2014-2022) (2024)
Owczarczak-Garstecka, S., Oxley, J.A., Tulloch, J.S.P. Public Health
Review of Psychological Effects of Dog Bites in Children (2024)
Westgarth, C. Provazza, S., Nicholas, J., Gray, V. BMJ Pediatrics
Audit of animal-related injuries at UK veterinary schools between 2009 and 2018 (2023)
Tulloch, J.S.P.; Fleming, K.M.; Pinchbeck, G; Forster, J.; Lowe, W.; Westgarth, C. Veterinary Record
Dog-related deaths registered in England and Wales from 2001 to 2021 (2023)
Tulloch, J.S.P.; Oxley, J.A..; Christley, R.M.; Westgarth, C. Public Health
A pilot study investigating human behaviour towards DAVE (Dog Assisted Virtual Environment) and interpretation of non-reactive and aggressive behaviours during a virtual reality exploration task. (2022)
Oxley, J.A..; Meyer G.; Cant, I.; Bellantuono, G.M.; Butcher, M; Levers, A.; Westgarth, C. PloS One
A Systematic Scoping Review of Human-Dog Interactions in Virtual and Augmented Reality: The Use of Virtual Dog Models and Immersive Equipment (2022)
Oxley, J.A..; Santa K.; Meyer G.; Westgarth, C. Frontiers in Virtual Reality
“If You Don’t See the Dog, What Can You Do?” Using Procedures to Negotiate the Risk of Dog Bites in Occupational Contexts (2021)
Owczarczak-Garstecka, S.C.; Christley, R.M.; Watkins, F.; Yang, H.; Westgarth, C. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health
Assessment of detection of potential dog-bite risks in the home using a real-time hazard perception test. (2021)
Christley, R. M., Nelson, G., Millman, C., Westgarth, C. Anthrozoös.
Paediatric emergency department dog bite attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic: an audit at a tertiary children’s hospital. (2021)
Tulloch, J. S., Minford, S., Pimblett, V., Rotheram, M., Christley, R. M., & Westgarth, C. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 5(1).
Reducing dog bites and promoting safety (2021)
Schofield, R., Oxley, J. A. and Westgarth, C. Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership. Companion Animal, 26(4), 66-66.
The Happy Dog Owner (2021)
Westgarth, C. Welbeck publishing
English hospital episode data analysis (1998–2018) reveal that the rise in dog bite hospital admissions is driven by adult cases. (2021).
Tulloch, J. S., Owczarczak-Garstecka, S. C., Fleming, K. M., Vivancos, R., & Westgarth, C. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-12.
Pet dog bites in children: management and prevention. (2020).
Jakeman, M., Oxley, J. A., Owczarczak-Garstecka, S. C., & Westgarth, C. BMJ paediatrics open, 4(1) e000726.
The Responsible Dog Owner: The Construction of Responsibility. (2019).
Westgarth, C., Christley, R. M., Marvin, G. & Perkins, E. Anthrozoös 32, 631-646
Dog bite safety at work: An injury prevention perspective on reported occupational dog bites in the UK. (2019).
Owczarczak-Garstecka, S.C., Christley, R.M., Watkins, F., Yang, H., Bishop, B., Westgarth, C. Safety Science. 118, 595-606
What is a dog bite? Perceptions of UK dog bite victims (2019).
Oxley, J.,A., Christley, R., Westgarth, C. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 29, 40-44
Exploration of Perceptions of Dog Bites among YouTube™ Viewers and Attributions of Blame (2018).
Owczarczak-Garstecka, S.,C., Watkins, F., Christley, R., Yang, H., Westgarth, C. Anthrozoös, 31 (5), 537-549
Online videos indicate human and dog behaviour preceding dog bites and the context in which bites occur (2018)
Owczarczak-Garstecka, S.,C., Watkins, F., Christley, R., Westgarth, C. Scientific Reports, 8 (1), 7147
How many people have been bitten by dogs? A cross-sectional survey of prevalence, incidence and factors associated with dog bites in a UK community (2018).
Westgarth, C., Brooke, M., Christley, R. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 72 (4), 331-336
Contexts and consequences of dog bite incidents (2018).
Oxley, J.A., Christley, R., Westgarth, C. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 23, 33-39.
Dog bites: a multidisciplinary perspective (2017)
Mills, D., Westgarth, C. 5M Publishing
A qualitative investigation of the perceptions of female dog-bite victims and implications for the prevention of dog bites (2015)
Westgarth,C., Watkins, F. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 10 (6), 479-488.
Can dog bites be prevented through education? The victim perspective (2014)
C. Westgarth, F. Watkins. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research,9 (6), e7
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