Biting Dogs – Common Causes and Safety Tips
It is extremely unfortunate when a dog bites someone. However, it rarely happens without cause or warning. There is always a triggering factor, motivation, or drive that is understandable from the dog's perspective. Proactively avoiding risks is crucial to prevent a dog from crossing the biting threshold. So read and become aware of the crucial factors.
Social cultural clashes between two species can occur quite easily. And sometimes, dogs resolve their frustration in a dog-like manner. The risk is greater if the dog is in pain, scared, or unsure, feeling challenged, guarding, or redirecting predatory behavior towards a person. But even though it's not the dog's fault, it's always our responsibility. Below you can read about the most common interactions between people and dogs that lead to bites, all to keep you well-informed and proactive.
Dogs' reaction to strangers: causes and solutions
If an unknown person approaches your dog in a threatening manner (stiff, slow, nervous, staring, leaning over), the dog may perceive it as a threat and act accordingly. Some may back away, others may growl, some may lunge, and some may even bite. Not all dogs appreciate strangers trying to pet or greet them; they want to be left alone.
Solution:
Early and regular socialization with people who understand dogs and want to learn about your dog from you, is a good vaccine against this risk. To avoid this type of biting accidents, people should always ask you before approaching your dog, and if someone doesn't ask for permission, you need to intervene if your dog does not appreciate the attention.
Dogs protecting their resources: causes and solutions
If a person disturbs a dog while the dog is eating, chewing a bone, playing with a toy, or sleeping, the dog may feel threatened and bite. This can happen if someone tries to take the dog's toy or interrupt while the dog is eating. It can also occur if a person pets or sits next to a sleeping dog.
Solution:
Always let a dog eat, sleep, and chew bones in peace. This shows the dog that a person’s presence does not disrupt their sleep, mealtime, or bone chewing. You and others in the dog's inner circle can walk by, talk kindly, and throw an extra treat to the dog. However, with strangers, you need to help your dog keep them at bay. If you take on that task, your dog won't have to defend itself in a dog-like way.
Self-defense: when dogs feel threatened
If a person scares or threatens a dog, the dog may respond by biting in self-defense. This can happen if someone yells at the dog, tries to correct them harshly, hits, pushes roughly, or treats the dog in any threatening manner.
Solution:
To avoid biting accidents of this kind, as the dog parent, you should always make sure to manage situations where others may feel the need to tell your dog off. You yourself, can guide your dog in the right direction with trust and in a loving and respectful way, without risk.
Children and dogs: how to reduce the risk of bites
Children are lively, unpredictable, sometimes loud, and some are very interested in dogs. This can increase the risk of bites, especially if children rush towards the dog, wake the dog up, play intensely close to the dog, attempt to hug, kiss the dog's head, lift or stare at a dog, as dogs may find these actions uncomfortable or threatening. A child running and screaming loudly may also trigger herding or chasing drive, which can result in a nip.
Solution:
Early and regular socialization with calm children who want to learn to understand and communicate with dogs respectfully is a good solution against this risk. Additionally, supervised interaction with children is essential. Short sessions where you actively monitor and manage the situation, increase the distance between the dog and children, and actively show your dog that you will handle the situation if it becomes burdensome.
Re-directed aggression: when the dog turns and bites you
If a dog becomes highly stressed and reactive without the possibility of reaching the trigger, such as another dog during a walk, the dog may turn around and bite the nearest object, including its dog parent. This is redirected aggression and is not personally directed but rather an outlet for pent-up frustration.
Solution:
In the acute situation, the dog's outlet should be directed towards something more suitable, like a toy or a stick. In the long run, the dog needs to be trained to handle encounters differently.
Photography and dogs' privacy
Dogs that are asked to sit close for a good picture, wear clothes, be carried, hugged, kissed, or place their paw on someone on cue, can be triggered to bite. This is more common if the person (or the other dog) is a stranger or a child.
Solution:
Do not take pictures of your dog if the dog isn't comfortable with it.
Dealing with pain, management and care safely
Dogs that are sick, in pain, or have had negative experiences with handling or care in the past may bite in self-defense. They want an increased distance and may defend themselves with their teeth.
Solution:
Of course, the illness or pain needs to be addressed, and in acute care situations, these dogs may need to be distracted or wear a muzzle to receive the care they need. However, this is not a long-term solution. Over time, the dog's pain/illness needs to be addressed, and then Fear Free Handling training should be embraced in combination with other trust-building exercises.
Understanding and respecting the nature of dogs
All dogs are individuals and may react differently in various situations. It is essential to know your dog well and make the surroundings aware of how to interact with the dog to respect their boundaries.
It is also crucial to remember that our beloved dogs are domesticated predators with guarding and hunting instincts that we cannot always predict. No dog should be "trusted" in the human sense. Expecting a dog to always be "kind" from our perspective underestimates their heritage. They are not like us; they are predators, and it isn't a bad thing; it's nature. We must always remember and respect that.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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