Article about Dogs and Biting

Every dog is capable of biting. Biting is a natural behavior for dogs to engage in. It is a way for a non-verbal animal to communicate certain things very clearly. Dogs have an extreme and very precise level of control over their bite. They do not bite 'on accident'. A dog can easily move his head four times faster than a human can move their hand. Lots of times, however, dogs will snap. This is not a missed bite but a warning.

If a dog only bites acceptable things at acceptable times, he can be entertaining or even helpful. For example, a trained dog that fetches a ball by running after it, biting it and carrying it back to his owner is cute. Similarly, a police dog who apprehends a criminal and restrains him by biting and holding onto his arm or leg can save someone's life. Problems occur when dogs bite the wrong things at the wrong times. For dogs to live in human society, they must inhibit and modify their natural inclination to bite in order to become an acceptable member of society. Even dogs that live in the wild with other dogs must learn to do this. One of a puppy's earliest lessons includes learning that he can not run up to an adult dog and chomp down on his ear. That adult dog will let him know in no uncertain terms with a growl, a snarl, a lunge and possibly a snap that he can't do that. The adult may even pin the puppy for a moment. The puppy will then be shunned until he changes how he approaches that dog. The puppy will learn that he must inhibit his desire to chomp ears and modify the way he interacts with other dogs if he is to become an accepted member of the pack. His reward will come when he controls himself enough that other members of the pack will interact with him and allow him access to the limited resources of the pack like food and shelter.

Below are a few tips to help prevent biting behavior:

• Socialize your dog beginning when you bring him home. Undersocialized dogs may feel uneasy when approached by strangers. These otherwise loving dogs may bite out of fear.
• Train your dog by teaching him, at the very least, basic commands like 'sit', 'down', 'stay', heel', and 'come'.
• Train your dog to drop his toys on command so that you do not have to reach into his mouth to retrieve the toy.
• Be cautious when introducing your dog to new situations. Be ready to respond to any signs that your dog is starting to feel uncomfortable and remove him from the situation.
• Do not put your dog in a situation where he is likely to feel threatened or teased. You may want to confine your dog in these potential situations.
• Play non-aggressive games such as fetch. Games such as tug-of-war could encourage inappropriate behavior.
• Small children should never be left unsupervised with a pet.

To avoid being bitten, keep the following in mind:

• Practice safe behavior when around unfamiliar dogs.
• Children should be taught to always ask the owner for permission before they pet a dog.
• Respect a dog's space. Keep your hands away from a dog's fence. A dog considers his yard personal property and may growl or bite to protect it.
• 'Let sleeping dogs lie' is a good rule to follow. That goes for a dog that is eating or drinking as well.
• Be cautious around a mother dog with her puppies. She will be naturally protective.

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