Dog biting
Stop Dog Biting - Training Your Dog Not to Bite There is much joy and satisfaction to be gained from our relationships with our four-legged friends. But far too often we see headlines about someone being seriously injured or even killed from a dog bite or attack. Unfortunately, dog biting is an all too common problem, one which all pet owners should take very seriously. While it may be cute to watch a little toy dog snap and snarl, it's quite a different matter when the dog is a large breed when biting can be truly dangerous. What's important to understand is that all dogs can bite under the right circumstances. This is a natural defensive behavior, and it's unrealistic to think that any amount of forethought or training can completely eliminate all possibility of your dog ever biting. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk.
Preventing a biting problem is much easier than curing one. The first place to begin is before you even get a dog, by selecting a breed that is not known or bred to be aggressive. Biting can be an inbred genetic behavior trait in some breeds of dogs, and in some cases is desirable. For instance, guard dog breeds like Doberman Pinschers or Chow Chows are bred to be more aggressive. Herding dogs like Border Collies or Australian Shepherds are bred to nip at the heels of the animal being herded, which you or your children may end up substituting for. The often snappish behavior of some Terriers is a result of their having been bred to hunt out small vermin and rodents. Even German Shepherds, normally benign working dogs, if they descend from a line that has been bred for police work, can harbor inbred traits that make them undesirable as pets. So do your homework on breeds, and unless you need an aggressive dog for a particular reason, choosing a calmer and more peaceful breed is the first step to preventing a biting problem. Some small breeds can be very "nippy," so be sure you understand breed characteristics. Even if you feel you do need a guard or working dog, investigate any prospective puppy's background very carefully, not just the parents, but go back several generations, to ensure that his line was not bred for or doesn't include any traits you don't want. There is really no such thing as a "bad breed." Most all dogs can be properly trained and socialized to be gentle, tolerant, and predictable. Your dog should be trained to obey basic commands: sit, stay, come, and down. This alone could prevent many dog-biting incidents. (The following information is general.) Potentially aggressive breeds: Llasa Apso: can be cranky with kids
German Shepherd: great with kids "Pit bull" is a bit of a misnomer. There really is no such breed. Generally, "pit bulls" are a cross between a "bulldog" breed and a terrier. They are also known as American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Most "pit bulls" are not aggressive by nature and tend to be gentle, playful and loving. However, there are those that have been bred and trained to be aggressive. Even then, they are more aggressive toward other animals, not people. Often, aggressive "pit bulls" have been abused and/or neglected. Then the dog is to be considered very dangerous.
1. Try to take food or toy away from him. Never bother a dog while he
is eating. The most common situation where a dog bite occurs is while
a dog is eating.
No matter what the breed, all puppies want and will try to bite. Biting and mouthing are normal behaviors for puppies. Dogs don't have hands so they investigate objects and their environment with their mouths. To a curious puppy, everything about the world is brand new and exciting. He learns as he goes along. Playing is also a normal learning behavior for puppies, especially play-fighting. Play-fighting with littermates and other animals develops coordination, reflexes, and physical skills. In addition, it helps them develop social skills, and teaches them how to interact positively within their pack. And it's great fun for them. Bite inhibition refers to both a dog's ability to control the force of his biting, and the training to reinforce that ability. If a puppy is left with its mother and littermates for a proper amount of time, they will be the ones to take care of his first training as to when and where biting is allowed. There is a fairly short window of time in which this can best be accomplished, which is part of the reason it's not a good idea to take a puppy from its mother too soon. Puppies seem to learn a great deal about bite inhibition and authority between five and eight weeks of age through play with their mothers and littermates. If you take a puppy when it's very young, less than eight weeks old, then you will have to be the one to teach him to inhibit his biting tendencies. Puppies that receive little or no training in bite inhibition, either from their mothers or their people, may grow up to develop behavior problems. For instance, if a puppy tries to bite his mother, she will yelp very loudly, growl in his face with bared teeth, and then turn away and shun him completely for a period of time. This gives him the message, loud and clear, that if he bites he will get an unpleasant reaction and then no attention at all. If he persists, the mother dog will turn on him, again with a snarling growl, get hold of him by the scruff of the neck with her teeth, and shake him sternly, not letting go until he goes limp in submission. Really obnoxious puppies are dealt with by mother dog knocking them over with her paw, pinning them to the ground, and pinching them with her teeth. If you have a very young puppy, or one whose training was for some reason not accomplished in the natural way, then you must imitate mother dog's "yelp, shun, shake and pin" tactics if you want the lesson about not biting to stick. If he bites you, yell, "Ouch!" very loudly, or give a high pitched yelp as the mother dog would do, grasp him firmly by the scruff of his neck, shake him (though don't lift him up) and give the command, "No Bite!" Hold him down for a second or two, and then let him go and ignore him for several minutes. Repeat as necessary. If you don't like or have success using this method, there are a few others you can try. They include: - Making a trade. Trade your arm (or foot or fingers) for an appropriate
toy.
If you have an adult dog who has not learned to control his biting and aggression it is helpful if you can determine the reasons for your dog's aggressive behavior. Though often overlapping, aggressive behaviors can be roughly divided into four types: 1. Play biting occurs when the "cute" behaviors have been allowed to
go on for too long, and the dog has become habituated to bite as a playful
gesture. Though it is far preferable to have prevented such behavior in the first place, there are nevertheless some methods you can try to correct even established behavior. Of course, the younger the dog, the more likely you are to be successful. Patience, consistency, and persistence are of paramount importance. Play Biting: For play biting, refer back to the part on bite inhibition for puppies, and making it not fun for your dog to bite in play. - Stop playing any and all roughhousing games such as tug-of-war or chasing
games. Don't let any games become too intense, and try to prevent your
dog from becoming too excited, as that is often when biting occurs. Keep
play sessions short. Dominance Biting Refuse to tolerate his dominance aggression: Be sure to follow standard procedures of dog training by observing and promptly rewarding any signs of submission from your dog, such as laying his ears down against his head, or lowering his head and curling his tail around his body, or refusing to make eye contact. Praise him and give him with treats. But don't praise him and love him out of the blue for no reason at all, no matter how affectionate you might feel, as this will just confuse him. In order to avoid a situation where the dog obeys only you, but is still aggressive toward other family members, you may have to train them too, particularly if you have a family member(s) who is passive or submissive. For instance, it's common to see a situation where a dog will obey the husband in a family, but completely ignore the wife or children. Don't let this happen. Encourage your family members (with your supervision) to also establish their dominance over the dog, using the same methods, and promptly praising and rewarding submissive behavior. Eventually, step it up a notch, to include training the dog to let you hold his paws, or hold his head still, or hold him down in a laying position. Again, always promptly praise and reward the desired behavior.
If your dog exhibits territorial aggression, some of the specific steps
might differ a bit, but essentially the main approach is the same:
Dogs who bite out of fear have likely missed an important window of opportunity
for socialization when they were very young, were born to a mother who
is also shy, or else have an inborn genetic leaning toward timidity. The
best way to correct this type of behavior is to try to re-socialize a
timid dog so that he is not so scared. If you can increase his confidence,
you can decrease the likelihood that he will bite out of fear.
If you have tried all the above methods for training your dog not to
bite and nothing has worked, the only choice you may have left is to manage
him so that he does not bite you or anyone else. Some ways to do this
are: Of course, the best thing to do is be aware of the potential problems inherent in biting behavior long before matters can ever get to an extreme state. As you can see, recognizing and understanding the importance of proper bite inhibition is the key to preventing and correcting any biting problems, whether they stem from play or aggression or fear. Establish your dominance from the start, give yourself and your dog the benefit of obedience training, communicate well, be consistent, correct any problems the instant they appear, and you and your dog will enjoy a peaceful, happy and loving relationship for many years to come.
Train your dog. Accompanying your dog to a training class is an excellent way to socialize him and to learn proper training techniques. Teach basic commands. Train your dog. Teach basic commands. One cause of biting is pain. If you suspect pain as the cause, see your veterinarian immediately. Keep your dog healthy. License your dog as required by law, and provide regular veterinary care. Make sure you have him vaccinated against rabies and other diseases. Spayed or neutered dogs are much less likely to bite. An unneutered dog is more than 3 times as likely to attack. Often this alone will do a great deal to reduce unwanted aggressive behaviors, including biting. Dogs are social animals. Spend quality time with your dog and make your dog a member of your family - dogs who spend a great deal of time alone in the backyard or tied on a chain often become dangerous. Dogs that are well-socialized and supervised are much less likely to bite. Just as humans do, dogs protect things they care about such as their food and favorite toys. They also protect spaces - their own and their owners. Eating and sleeping areas, yards, porches, and parked cars are all commonly defended by dogs. The vast majority of dogs are safe, reliable companions. But even a friendly dog may bite if threatened, angry, afraid, or hurt. Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog. Always walk your dog on-leash. Get your dog used to having you touch and groom him at an early age. Dogs have to have a lot of care and grooming throughout their lifetime that involves touching, stroking, holding, or restraining. He may only be warning you with a growl, but if you let it be there will come a time when you have to give him medication or otherwise restrain him, and he's liable to bite. Properly socialize your puppy. Before the age of 4 months, your puppy should be introduced to all of the things he'll see in his adult lifetime. (If not then it's likely he'll be terrified of those things later when he encounters them.) Socialize him beyond the normal casual encounters with people, by exposing him to a wide range of different sights, sounds, and textures. - Textures could include pavement, rugs, cement, sand, grass, gravel,
linoleum, and dirt. Introduce him to everything! If the dog is not afraid of it, he won't try to attack it to defend himself. A well-adjusted dog is not a biting dog. There is no way to guarantee that your dog will never bite someone. But you can significantly reduce the possibility of it ever happening.
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