Experts are crediting the surge in dog attacks to the growing number of de-sexed, unregistered dogs and poor safety messaging

The Herald reveals three-thousand attacks on people and other animals were reported to Auckland Council, last year.

Dog Safe Workplace Director Jo Clough says Kiwi habits when acting around dogs are often incorrect, leading to incidents.

She says people wrongly tell kids to greet a new dog by touching its chin, when a 80-percent of bites to children are on their face.