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Dogs That Bite
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Dogs that bite might
be broadly categorized into two groups: dogs that think they can; and
dogs that think they must.
Dogs in the first group think they can at the dog's discretion.
Dogs in the second group have, in the dog's perception, been put into
the position that it feels it has no other choice. There is a big difference
in the approach to dealing with each group, and a lot of variation within
the approaches to the individual dogs.
The dog's that think they can range from dogs that are genetically
predisposed, to those that have been environmentally encouraged through
a lack of training or bad training. In both cases human failure has
led the dog down a path that leads to misery for the dog and danger to
humans. Dogs identified with genetic disposition to bite should
never be bred. They are unsuitable for companion work, and it
may be difficult if not impossible to gain reliable obedience response
for duties requiring bite work.
The dog that bites because it think it must may be well trained
and socialized, but perceives itself to be in a situation where it knows
no other option to prevent what it perceives as an undesirable incident.
Bite prevention for both categories involves two approaches:
training and management. Reliable obedience must be gained, and behaviour
and perception modification used to enhance control of the obedience.
Management is important because it must be used to prevent situations
where obedience reliability has not yet been gained by training. In
a perfect canine world management must be thought of as an interim measure
and an addition to training - not as a substitute.
Training aggressive dogs and preventing aggressive behaviour
from developing is both a training and a management issue. Bite prevention
approached with training and integrated management has the best potential
for success.
Success may be viewed as the lowest predictable level which is
acceptable. None of my own dogs has ever bitten because I put them
through extensive training to ensure their reliability. Yet I can not
train for every situation, and I use management to prevent those situations
from arising if possible.
George Hobson is a professional dog trainer residing
in Columbia, Missouri, USA. He is the owner and senior trainer at Eastwood
Kennel, which features lakes and several hundred acres for upland and
versatile field dog training. A specially designed pond for puppies and
young dogs ensures their successful start in water work on their way to
becoming a partner in the field or duck blind. Private lessons for dogs
of all ages, in obedience and manners required for being a lifetime companion,
are part of the training regimen offered at Eastwood. Eastwood's philosophy
is that a well mannered dog is the one that will always be a pleasure to
own, and that it will be as welcome in a hotel as at home or in the field.
Colonel Hobson is a member of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog
Association, a Professional Member of the International Association of Canine
Professionals, and has over 30 years experience in dog training.
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Dog bites flasher where it hurts
A man who flashed at
a woman walking her dog got a shock when the German Shepherd cross bit
his genitals.
Medical secretary Jacqui Jones was walking through a park in St
Albans, Hertfordshire, when the man appeared from behind a tree.
Her dog Tara went after the man and bit him.
The 55-year-old told The Sun: "I could see the man was in a state
of excitement but Tara wiped the smile off his face. He hobbled away doubled
up in agony."
Police are hunting for the flasher who ran off after the attack.
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Don’t worry they won’t bite
While that's true for
the vast majority of dogs, even the cuddliest, fuzziest, sweetest pup
can bite if provoked. Unwisely, some owners actually promote aggression
in their dogs as symbols of power.
From nips to bites to actual attacks, dog bites are a serious problem.
Dog bite victims requiring medical attention in the United States number
500,000 to 1 million annually. Countless more bites go unreported and
untreated. On average, about a dozen people die each year from dog bites.
Fortunately, there are steps we can take to address this problem.
Who's Being Bitten?
Children make up more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims. The
national Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates half of
all children 12 and younger have been bitten by a dog.
The elderly and home service people - like mail carriers and meter
readers - also are high on the list of frequent dog bite victims.
What's a Dog Owner to Do?
Carefully consider your pet selection. Before and after selection,
your veterinarian is the best source for information about behaviour and
suitability.
Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy, so it feels at
ease around people and other animals. Expose your puppy to a variety
of situations a little at a time and under controlled circumstances; continue
that exposure on a regular basis as your dog gets older. If you're not
sure how your dog will react to a large crowd or a busy street, be cautious.
Don't put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased.
Train your dog. The basic commands "sit," "stay," "no" and
"come" can be incorporated into fun activities which build a bond of
obedience and trust between pets and people. Don't play aggressive games
like wrestling or tug-of-war with your dog.
Keep your dog healthy. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and
preventable infectious diseases. Parasite control is important to how
your dog feels and behaves.
Neuter your pet. It's a fact: Neutered dogs are less likely to bite.
Be a responsible pet owner. License your dog with the community as required.
Obey leash laws. Dogs are social animals; spending time with your pet
is important. Dogs that are frequently left alone have a greater chance
of developing behaviour problems.
Be alert. Know your dog. You naturally would be alert to signs of
illness, but you must also watch for signs your dog is uncomfortable
or feeling aggressive.
How Can My Family and I Avoid Being Bitten?
Be cautious around strange dogs and treat your own pet with respect.
Because children are the most frequent victims of dog bites, parents and
caregivers should:
NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
Be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations.
Start teaching young children - including toddlers - to be careful
around pets.
Children must be taught NOT to approach strange dogs. Children should
be taught to ask permission from a dog's owner before petting the dog.
Other Tips That May Prevent or Stop a Dog Attack:
Don't run past a dog. Dogs naturally love to chase and catch things.
Don't give them a reason to become excited or aggressive.
Never disturb a dog that's caring for puppies, sleeping or eating.
If a dog approaches to sniff you - stay still. In most cases, the
dog will go away when it determines you're not a threat.
If you're threatened by a dog, remain calm. Don't scream. If you
say anything, speak calmly and firmly. Avoid eye contact. Try to stay
still until the dog leaves, or back away slowly until the dog is out of
sight. Don't turn and run.
If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with
your hands over your head and neck. Protect your face.
What Should I Do if My Dog Bites Someone?
Even if the bite can be explained (perhaps someone stepped on the
dog's tail), it's important to take responsibility for your dog's actions
by taking these steps:
Restrain the dog immediately. Separate it from the scene of the
attack. Confine it.
Check on the victim's condition. Wash wounds with soap and water.
Professional medical advice should be sought to evaluate the risk of
rabies or other infections. Call 911 if paramedic response is required.
Provide important information: Your name and address, and information
about your dog's most recent rabies vaccination. If your dog does not
have a current rabies vaccination, it may be necessary to quarantine it
or even euthanise it for rabies testing. The person bitten may need to
undergo rabies treatment.
Report the bite to your insurance company.
Comply with local ordinances regarding the reporting of dog bites.
Consult your veterinarian for advice about dog behaviour that will
help prevent similar problems in the future.
If YOU are the bite victim - treat wounds.
If your own dog bit you, confine it immediately and call your veterinarian
to check your dog's vaccination records.
If someone else's dog bit you, contact authorities and tell them
everything you can about the dog: the owner's name, if you know it; colour
of the dog; size; where you saw it; if you've seen it before. These details
may help animal-control officers locate the dog.
Dogs are wonderful companions. By acting responsibly, owners not
only reduce the number of dog bites, but also enhance the relationships
they have with their dogs.
To learn more about the joys and responsibilities of pet ownership,
contact your veterinarian or local veterinary association.
Provided in the interest of public safety:
Teaching without punishing
Training is an ongoing procedure that lasts your dog's lifetime
and although throughout time punishment has been a part of dog training
it is really not an effective way to teach your pet. Since it creates a
sense of fear of being rebuked and not of learning why not to do it.
The problem with punishment
Trainers have time and again found that it is possible to elicit
good and consistent behaviour without punishment. In fact punishment can
sometimes have an adverse affect on your dog. Think about these points:
Punishment puts an end to unwanted behaviour but without giving
an alternative.
The long-term negative effects of punishment training outweigh any
benefits.
One interesting example of how punishment is ineffective is found
in looking at humans and their bad habit of speeding. Those who have
been fined for speeding understand what I mean. As the officer pulled you
over you got this sick feeling in your stomach and you couldn't speak properly.
Then you finally received your ticket, then you had to pay the fine and
you had lost points on your license etc… But did all of this stop you from
ever speeding again? Of course not, why just a few weeks later you found
yourself going over the speed limit trying to make it to that important
appointment on time.
So what happened? Did you learn not to speed or did you in fact
become a more cautious speeder. Now you were looking around while speeding
to make sure you didn't get caught again. The punishment had a reverse
consequence. Instead of making you stop speeding it had made you a more
skilled speeder.
Dog Punishment is Reactive
Training teaches appropriate behaviour but punishment is a response
to bad behaviour. You also can't control what your dog learns when you
use punishment as a training technique. Punishment is not a good way to
fix behavioural problems because it only puts an end to a bad behaviour
but without showing a desirable one. When the punishment is administered
the undesirable action has already occurred and can't be undone anyway
When you punish your dog for something, you are conditioning them
to expect something negative. For example if your dog jumps on your children
and you punish him or your child punishes him he will begin to associate
children with something bad. Obviously you don't want your family dog
to learn this. If you are spending time training your dog to be social
and friendly and then punish him for exhibiting this very trait, confusion
will definitely result or worse.
How important is Timing in Dog Training
For punishment to be effective at all, it must be administered when
the undesirable behaviour commences. Most pet owners just aren't able
to do this. Even if you were able to punish at the correct time, your dog
is usually over stimulated at that moment and therefore unable to process
and understand the reason for his punishment. Which means that he simply
becomes confused and misreads your actions.
Also the moment your dog ceased his inappropriate action you would
then need to reward him. It is the correct action, which you want him to
perform after all, and for him to learn this he must be taught. To train
a dog it is necessary to repeat, repeat, and repeat. If your dog has a
bad habit then it is that much more important for you to reinforce the new
action that you want him to perform. Overall if you don't offer him an alternative
to his bad behaviour he will misunderstand the reason for the correction
and draw his own conclusion as to what it is you want him to do.
Redirecting Dog Behaviour
A much more effective method of dealing with your dog's inappropriate
response is to interrupt it at the onset. If your dog begins to exhibit
tension or nervousness simply distract him by calling his name or taking
him out of the situation that is causing him stress.
If your dog is barking then he is probably not in the frame of mind
for instruction. When a person is enraged, trying to communicate something
to them is usually out of the question. Therefore the ideal is to stop
your dog before he begins to over react. Remember that repetition is the
way our dogs learn so if you can break a bad habit or stop it from beginning
they will have less to unlearn.
When your dog is distracted or being disobedient it is not the time
to repeat commands, as all he will be learning is to ignore you.
Study what the triggers are that bring on your dogs undesirable
behaviour and then work at interrupting them at the beginning. Then step-by-step
you want to teach him what is the acceptable behaviour; you can even train
him with a substitute behaviour to replace the old undesirable one.
Establishing new Dog Behavioural Patterns
As we have mentioned before, you can substitute the inappropriate
action for a better one. Teaching your dog any new behaviour takes time
and planning. Much more so if you are also having to undo past problems
or bad habits.
Repetition
As you are teaching your dog a new pattern of behaviour you want
to also limit his opportunities to fall back into his old habit. By limiting
his ability to perform the old action, and by constantly reinforcing only
the new action he will be able to learn quicker. Dog’s respond to rewards
and if only one action (the right one) is rewarded then he will more readily
forsake the other (the wrong one).
Dog Training Aid
Managing a dog is a very important part of his training. He has
fences, gates and a leash which all limit the things which he can do.
These aids should be used and can be used very effectively if we realize
that preventing our dog from jumping up on visitors through the use of
a fence or leash means that we will not have to try to unteach this very
undesirable action.
The fallout of punishment: aggression
Dog bites more common in very young children
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Dog bites occur more often in very young
children, so families should consider waiting until their children are
of school age before they introduce a new dog into the household. Even
then, parents might want to think twice about getting a Doberman pinscher
or German shepherd, according to a study published on Monday.
Dr. Johannes Schalamon and associates at the Medical University of
Graz, conducted a review of 341 children treated for dog bites at a trauma
centre in Austria over a 10-year period.
They found that children 1 year of age or younger had the highest
risk of being bitten, although children up to age 10 also had a higher
risk than older individuals.
"Parents should postpone purchase of a dog until children are of
school age," the researchers recommend. Children generally enter primary
schools at age 5 or 6.
"Throughout evolution dogs have lived in packs with a specific order
of dominance. In view of this rigorous hierarchal system in a pack, dogs
may regard newborns as well as toddlers as subordinate," they added. But
"school-aged children can be trained successfully in precautionary behaviour
when approaching a dog."
The researchers also found that the risk of being bitten by a German
shepherd or a Doberman was about five times higher than for a Labrador
retriever or a mixed breed. No dog bites in the study involved fighting
breeds such as pit bulls, perhaps because of increased public awareness
of their aggressiveness, Schalamon's group added.
The
study was published in the March issue of "Paediatrics," the journal of
the American Academy of Paediatrics.
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Postpone Family Dog Until Kids Are School-Age
By Kathleen Doheny Health Day Reporter
Kids and dogs may seem
like a perfect match, but a new study finds the family pooch is best introduced
after children reach the age of 5.
The reason is simple: Toddlers are much more likely than older children
to unknowingly aggravate dogs, who may then react as dogs do -- by biting.
"Our study showed that the number of attacks on children decreases
with age and is highest at 1 year of age," said Dr. Johannes Schalamon,
a co-author of the study and a physician in the department of paediatric
surgery at the Medical University of Graz in Austria.
"Therefore I would recommend to supervise younger children more closely
when they are in contact with a dog and postpone the purchase of a dog
until children are of school age," Schalamon said.
Once a family is ready for a dog, parents might also want to pay
close attention to the breed, the researchers said. They found that German
Shepherds and Dobermans, in particular, were more likely to bite children
than other breeds.
The study is published in the March issue of Paediatrics.
Schalamon's team reviewed the charts of 341 children aged 17 or under
who sought medical attention in Austrian hospitals due to a dog bite between
1994 and 2003. Then they analyzed dog registers to count the canine population
in the community by breed.
The likelihood of a child receiving a dog bite decreased with age,
with children 1 year old and younger most likely to be bitten, the researchers
found. In all, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of the paediatric dog-bite
cases occurred in children younger than 10. The risk of getting bitten
by a German shepherd or a Doberman was more than five times higher than
that of a Labrador retriever or a mixed-breed dog. Children were most likely
to be bitten by dogs they knew -- their own pet or the pet of someone they
knew.
Of the breeds in the registry, spaniels, Shi Tzu and Maltese were
least likely to bite, the researchers said.
Fortunately, no children died, and 94 percent had injuries to just
one body region -- usually the face, head and neck area. But 27 percent
did require hospitalization, the researchers noted. More bites occurred
in the summer months than other times of the year.
The report basically rings true for one emergency-room physician.
"Their findings I think are fairly accurate," said Dr. Kathleen Cowling,
a spokeswoman for the American College of Emergency Physicians who works
as an emergency doctor at Covenant HealthCare Emergency Care Centre in
Saginaw, Mich. She believes some of the findings would hold true in the
United States, too.
"But I disagree with the age 5" recommendation, she said. "Younger
is OK, but parents need to be smart about it. Don't leave dogs and toddlers
unattended. I think it is unrealistic to say, 'Don't have dogs until the
kid is school age.' "
She pointed out that some couples get a dog before they have a child
and are not eager to give the dog away when the baby arrives.
The location of the study might have had a bearing on results, as
well, Cowling added. "In Europe in general, they are more liberal about
taking dogs into business and about leashes," she said. Those attitudes
could have upped the number of incidents.
Dr. Bernadine Cruz, a veterinarian in Laguna Hills, Calif., and a
member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, said "the study
has some very good points." She favors ages 5 to 7 as a good age range to
introduce a dog into a family.
But she takes exception to ranking a dog's tendency to bite by breed.
"To say that one breed is more prone to bite is inappropriate and inaccurate,"
she said. "Typically there are worse bites from bigger dogs just because
they are stronger."
Smaller dogs can and do bite, as the study itself showed, she said.
The researchers found that children younger than age 5 sustained more attacks
from small dogs compared with the older children.
Some of the bites studied by the Austrian researchers involved behaviour
that could easily provoke a reaction, such as pulling the dog's tail
or disturbing the dog while he is eating. Twenty-eight percent of bites
happened when kids were "playing with/near the dog," the researchers noted.
On one point all experts agreed: Parents should teach their children
how to handle a dog responsibly. Among the tips offered by the researchers:
Let a dog sniff you before petting it. Do not run past dogs you don't
know. Do not try to break up a dog fight.
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Bite Prevention
Gina Spadafori Pet Columnist
Every year in the fall, I
devote space to one of my highest priorities as a pet-care columnist: preventing
dog bites, especially attacks on children.
Many people imagine that the biggest threat to their child's safety
is an attack by some vicious neighborhood dog and that the risk increases
when children start walking to school in the fall. And while it's true
those random attacks do happen (and are all over the news when they do),
the fact remains that in most cases, children are bitten by dogs they know,
animals belonging to family or friends.
Much of the risk to children presented by a family dog can be minimized
by making sure an animal is just that -- a member of the family, an indoor
dog both trained and socialized. The most common description of a dog involved
in an attack: young, unneutered and socially isolated, often kept on a
chain.
Reversing those risk factors -- with the help of a trainer or behaviorist,
in some cases -- won't make your dog absolutely safe (any dog may bite),
but it will go a long way toward creating a safer family pet.
If you've taken steps to make your family dog as safe as possible,
the next step in bite prevention is to teach your child what to do if
encountering a potentially hostile dog on the street. This is especially
important because our instincts, when faced with a threatening loose dog,
could not be more deadly. We want to scream and run, which may trigger
predatory behavior in a dog.
The Humane Society of the United States suggests teaching your children
how to behave around strange dogs and how to react if attacked. Be sure
your children know the following:
Never approach a loose dog, even if he seems friendly. Dogs confined
in yards -- especially those on chains -- should also be avoided. If the
dog is with his owner, children should always ask permission before petting
the animal and then begin by offering the back of the hand for a sniff.
Pat the dog on the neck or chest. The dog may interpret a pat from above
as a dominant gesture. Teach your children to avoid fast or jerky movements.
"Be a tree" when a dog approaches, standing straight with feet together,
fists under the neck and elbows into the chest. Teach your children to
make no eye contact: Some dogs view this as a challenge. Running is a normal
response to danger, but it's the worst possible response to a dog because
it triggers the animal's instinct to chase and bite. Many dogs just sniff
and leave. Teach your children to stay still until the animal walks away,
and then back away slowly out of the area.
"Feed" the dog a jacket or backpack if attacked, or use a bike to block
the dog. These strategies may keep an attacking dog's teeth from connecting
with flesh.
Act like a log if knocked down -- face down, legs together, curled
into a ball, with fists covering the back of the neck and forearms over
the ears. This position protects vital areas and can keep an attack from
turning fatal.
Role-play these lessons with your child until they are ingrained. Dealing
with the dangers in your own yard and teaching your children how to cope
may spare your child a bite -- and may even save a life.
Friendly pet? Choose a different sign
Many people use "Beware of Dog" signs to keep people out of their yards
or protect their friendly pets. But these signs may not be your best friend.
In fact, if your dog does happen to hurt someone -- even knocking someone
down in a friendly greeting -- it may be argued that you knew your dog
was dangerous with the posting of the sign.
A better option? A "Keep Gate Closed" sign may do the trick, but even
better are the "Dog/Dogs in Yard" signs from The Original Pet Postings company
(www.bigdoorproducts.com or 877-995-3667). The signs are $17, including
shipping and mounting hardware, available in three different color combinations.
I like such signs -- and recommend them often -- because they can help
keep both people and pets safe, while giving a potential intruder reason
enough to move on.
Gina Spadafori
is the award-winning author of Dogs for Dummies, Cats for Dummies and
Birds for Dummies. She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information
Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals.
Write to her at petconnection@gmail.com.
COPYRIGHT 2006 - 2007 UNIVERSAL
PRESS SYNDICATE; 4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; 816-932-6600.
This work was originally published by Veterinary
Information
Network, Inc. (VIN) and is republished with VIN's permission.
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It is never a good idea to
let Puppy play with your hands or feet – no matter how cute it seems. This
teaches Puppy it is OK to bite skin. Even though tiny puppies playing tugof-war
with your big finger is cute, it is teaching a very bad habit! Never let
a puppy do something once that you do not want him to repeat. It is far easier
to prevent bad habits from developing that it is to retrain an older puppy
or adult dog. However, this can be used for adult dogs as well.
A good NILIF (see NILIF) program can also
manage nipping in play and for attention as Nothing In Life Is Free is
described earlier in the manual. However, it has to be done consistently
and by all who play with the pup or dog.
Puppies are very oral – it is how they explore and learn.
First, teach pup that it's mouth has strength and they can control it.
Let puppy at first apply a bit of pressure when he puts mouth on you. He
needs to learn he has jaw control and how hard is too hard. This is in case
puppy forgets manners and accidentally gets his mouth on you he will have
learned that humans need gentle. Then he needs to learn that if his mouth
gets on you, all play stops and he gets nothing. Puppies are very social
creatures and refusing to engage in play can be an effective training
technique. As soon as puppy starts to bite or nip, give a loud, yelping
"OUCH!!!" Follow with a low, growling "No Bite." Glare at the pup, get up
and move away. After a minute or so, get a toy and return to puppy. Encourage
the puppy to play with the toy. If he goes for you with a nip, repeat yelping
and walking away. If the pup persists in this behavior (nipping), he may
need a time out!
If you have yelped and walked away a couple times and pup keeps coming
back for more, CALMLY place him in his crate or behind a baby gate where
he cannot get to you. NEVER punish as you confine pup, as this will make
the confinement area a negative place. Basically, as soon as that next nip
comes, tell pup it is time out time and confine him. Puppies and dogs may
become nippier as they get tired, over-stimulated, etc and a
bit of quiet time and even a nap may help.
Never play games that teach pup it is cute to put his mouth on humans.
It is far easier to teach good manners from the beginning than it is to
retrain an adult dog that thinks it is good to put him mouth on people in
play, for attention, etc., and has for months or years. However, the same
concept applies to adult dogs. Again, play nipping and attention nipping
can be worked with a good NILIF program as well.
Should your dog continue to bite and not respond or if the biting is
accompanied with aggression, growling or anything you do not like, contact
a behaviorist. Also, have your dog examined by a vet. There could be an
underlying factor for the biting. A dog that issore or not feeling well
may bite. It is his way of saying something is not right. Also, a poorly
socialized or scared dog is more prone to bite, as is a startled one. Teach
your
children NEVER EVER touch a dog, even one they know, without the owner's
permission. Teach them never to handle a stray or loose animal, even if
they know it.
Children should contact a grown-up instead. Teach children not to tease
or hurt dogs. Even the most tolerant dog can be pushed past his limit and
retaliate. Even if the children are plainly at fault, it will be the dog
that suffers. Prevention is the key.
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The above information is simply informational.
It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist
you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian
for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
