{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,20]],"date-time":"2026-09-20T17:07:03Z","timestamp":1789924023806,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781136000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100017170","name":"Thailand Science Research and Innovation","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["WU-FF68-27"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["WU-FF68-27"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100017170","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"award":["WU-FF68-27"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["WU-FF68-27"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/000025p04","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Owning a pet dog provides significant mental and physical health benefits for humans. However, undesirable canine behaviors may result in bite or scratch injuries, leading to infection risks, psychological consequences, and potential dog abandonment. This study hypothesized that specific human\u2013dog interactions are associated with unwanted canine behaviors and may increase the risk of injury in humans. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of dog-related bite and scratch injuries; assess dog owners\u2019 knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and evaluate their associations with specific interaction patterns. Data were collected through an online survey of dog owners in Thailand. Most respondents were young women with a bachelor\u2019s degree, residing in Central Thailand, and owning a single dog. Interactions associated with increased injury occurrence included grooming; administering medication; removing food or toys; interrupting dog fights; and close physical contact including petting, hugging, and kissing. Injuries in strangers were most commonly triggered by entry into the dog\u2019s territory. Younger owners (18\u201334 years) were at increased risk, particularly during grooming and frequent petting. General awareness of rabies, bacterial infection, and wound management was adequate. However, there were still misconceptions about dog behavior. These findings highlight key risk factors and support targeted educational interventions to reduce injuries and improve animal welfare.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16121809","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]],"date-time":"2026-06-12T01:52:08Z","timestamp":1781229128000},"page":"1809","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["When Affection Becomes Risk: Human\u2013Dog Interactions Associated with Bite and Scratch Injuries in a Survey of Dog Owners\u2019 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Thailand"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6948-4144","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tuempong","family":"Wongtawan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"},{"name":"One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"},{"name":"Pet Mental and Behavior Clinic, Animal Hospital, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Prapawee","family":"Sungkatavat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"},{"name":"One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Onphirul","family":"Yurachai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of General Communicable Disease, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natalie","family":"Waran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Navigate Welfare, Napier 4182, Hawke\u2019s Bay, New Zealand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0002-1448","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Worakan","family":"Boonhoh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"},{"name":"One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"},{"name":"Center of Excellence in Innovation on Essential Oil and Bioactive Compounds, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Barroso, C.S., Brown, K.C., Laubach, D., Souza, M., Daugherty, L.M., and Dixson, M. 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