Dog Training – Stop That Biting Early

It has been estimated that in the United States alone approximately 5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. About 1000 people per day have bites that are so severe that it is necessary to have them treated at a hospital. Here are some other startling facts that point to the magnitude of this problem:

- Approximately half of all the claims on homeowner’s insurance are due to dog bites.

- Almost 70% of bites happen to the elderly or to children.

- Boys are bitten more often than girls.

- Male dogs are responsible for 8 out of 10 bites.

- Un-neutered males account for 6 out 10 bites.

…Enough said?

So Why Do Dogs Bite?

Illness or Injury

If dogs are ill or in pain they can become irritable. They can even be fearful that anyone that interacts with them may cause more pain.

Fear and Anxiety

If a dog has not had the opportunity to be properly socialized by being exposed to other animals and unfamiliar people, they may experience fear and confusion in these situations. Biting can also be the response of a dog that has been physically abused.

Territorial Response

Again, a dog that hasn’t been socialized is more inclined to think that your house and surrounding yard are all his. Any animal or person that dares to enter into his domain is seen a potential threat.

Feeding Time

Hungry dogs are often protective of their food while eating. If you are not clearly viewed as the pack leader then keep a safe distance.

Establishing Dominance

An alpha dog or pack leader, may feel the need to bite any pack member that appears to threaten his dominance.

Training Tips

Fortunately, almost everything we need to know about bite suppression training can be learned from a mother dog with her puppies.

Typically she will let each of them play around her until one takes a playful bite that is too hard. The puppy’s mother will often react with an exaggerated yelp or growl followed by ending her participation in the playtime. If the biting continues, her verbal protests will grow louder. A more extreme reaction by might include biting back or grabbing her pup by the scruff of the neck and removing it physically from her presence.

We can emulate this training by notifying the puppy with a gentle but stern “NO”. This should be loud enough to get the dog’s attention but not so loud that it frightens her. A frightened animal is much less trainable than one that is calm and relaxed.

Next follow this with a light squeeze on the pup’s muzzle. Most dogs naturally dislike having their muzzles squeezed at any age. Be careful not to cause the puppy to bite its tongue, though. Be especially careful not to squeeze hard or too high up on the muzzle. There are sensitive and delicate odor receptors high up inside the nose. You never want to damage the ability to smell.

The muzzle squeeze isn’t meant to punish, but rather to inform. The goal is to help the young dog associate the verbal command with something it can understand – discomfort.

If this fails to work, repeat the above steps followed by walking away. This loss of attention will help clarify which behavior is unacceptable. Playful, affectionate interactions too soon after saying “NO” can be confusing and even lead the dog to associate positive reinforcement with biting.

Visit a veterinarian. Check for any illness or injury that may be at the root of a biting problem.

Don’t remove puppies from their mother too soon. Wait at least 4 weeks before taking them away from mom and siblings. Many breeds need at least this much socialization time to be sufficiently mature enough for training.

Don’t hand heed. This can set up a potentially dangerous situation where your dog may learn to associate your hands with food. Instead feed from a bowl on the floor.

Provide something safe to chew. Dogs naturally have a powerful need to exercise their jaw. They often will chew and bite on the closest tempting objects like shoes, toys, furniture and even people. The trick is to give them a more appropriate substitute. Safe chew toys, pigs ears and bones can usually be found at a local pet store.

Begin bite suppression training as early as possible. Puppies are much easier to train than older dogs that have developed bad habits.

Use a leash when Introducing your dog to a new animal. Restrain your pet at first when introducing animals from other households. Restrain the other animal as well. Let them approach slowly giving them more freedom as long as they they appear calm and friendly.

Look for body tension, snarling, erect ears and other indicators of oncoming aggression. Make your dog sit, stroke its back and put out your hand to the other animal then convey the smell to your pet. Finally, if they are calm, allow them to interact.

Have Reasonable Expectations

Many dogs will take until their fourth or fifth month in life before they will be able to suppress their natural biting instinct. With any dog training, you need to get the entire family to use the same method. As always, patience and consistency are key to success.