Why do dogs bite and what is the solution?
?why dogs bite |
Nearly four and a half million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year from dogs, and a fifth of them end up in need of medical care for their wounds.
Unfortunately, children are the most frequent victims, as half of the victims are under the age of thirteen.
Children are also more likely to suffer serious injuries from dog bites due to the small size of children, and they do not know how to behave with dogs.
Most dog bites occur during interaction with familiar dogs, and thus we need to educate people and their children on how to avoid dog bites.
It is also important that any dog has the ability to bite, but by understanding the real causes that make dogs bite, it is possible to control and eliminate this problem with ease.
Main reasons for dog biting
the fear
- The fear is usually from strangers such as veterinarians. Therefore, you should not approach an unfamiliar dog and teach your children to do the same thing as well, because dog bites can occur when the dog surprises a stranger in the house, and therefore you must teach children not to suddenly sneak into the dog or disturb it during sleep.
- Breeders recommend early socialization, where the small dog will be exposed to many different people, animals, and situations, which reduces your sense of fear. For example, make your first visit to the veterinarian a simple visit so that the dog gets used to the clinic and the veterinary staff, and the fear of these visits will disappear.
Protect what your dog owns
- Protecting property is a common issue and “property” in this case can be anything like a toy, food, place, or even a human being. Where dogs believe that the only way to preserve property is attack and aggression by biting, but this behavior is naturally present in any dog. In this case, you should start training early to reduce possessive behavior.
- Teaching the command "Leave it" also works well in preventing aggression and attack. You can also avoid aggression due to food by teaching your dog to wait while putting food to him, by teaching them to sit or lie down, then remove their food and then return it. You can also approach the food bowl and add food to the food in front of it so that they understand that when someone approaches the food bowl it is not a bad thing.
- Teach children not to disturb dogs while eating or to enjoy a reward. We may find that the biting behavior of females is fiercer than males at many times. When playing with children, the hand or face may bite, and again we advise that training early is the only solution to curb these the problem
Dog pain can make him bite
- There are some breeds of dogs that are very sensitive to pain, in such cases, the dog bites if exposed to any kind of harm, and thus the strength and effect of the bite stops on the degree of pain, there are very nice dogs that bite the hand of their favorite owner when trying to calm her, and this, of course, It is abnormal, and one of the most common diseases that cause pain for dogs: otitis externa or deformities of the thigh joint, and these deformities cause constant pressure on the dog's thighs and cause him to feel constant pain.
Maternal instincts
- A well-trained dog can become aggressive when it has small dogs, and it is the maternal instinct that tries in every way to protect her children and protect them from any danger. You must respect the maternal instinct especially for dogs that have given birth to a puppy. Teach children not to approach a small puppy when it is near its mother, and to be careful when handling the puppies. This is by making sure the mother and the pups have a place to feel safe with little distraction for the mom.
Prey drive
- This instinct is sometimes triggered by seeing someone run or ride a bike, leading to a dog chasing them. If you jog or cycle, it is important to know your area, and if you see a wandering dog try to avoid it. If the dog starts chasing you, the best thing to do is to stop moving and not run and stand facing the dog.
- Be careful of the dog and it is preferable not to look into the eye of the dog because this can be considered by the dog as a challenge. "The dog may approach you and smell your scent. If he finds you not afraid, he will move to find something else .. Teach the children to do the same to avoid danger and not be bitten by dogs."
Biting because of the harassment that goes beyond the limits
- Dogs that bite as soon as they are exposed or harassed are considered a new and different category from other dogs, and most of the victims of these dogs are children and sometimes adults as well because they do not know or realize that there are limits to the dog.
- And it should not be violated in any way, such as hugging a dog while he sleeps is considered an infringement on his privacy and comfort, or putting socks on his nose, or children riding dogs like a horse, be sure that such behavior will make the dog object sooner or later and say no and resort to biting Here is the problem.
Warning signs that your dog will bite
- Certainly, knowing the reasons that cause dog biting will enable you to avoid these situations and not be exposed to them and protect your children. Where dog bites always precede a behavior that an intelligent observer can notice that is a warning from the dog, and therefore some measures can be taken to reduce the dog's tension or fear, and the most important of these signs are.
Ears back and stand up
- The fur may stand on its back and you may be able to see the whites of their eyes.
- Yawning and showing everyone their teeth are also warning signs
- Antisocial "rude" behavior such as lack of response to touch or gaze followed by constant direct eye contact from the dog
Prevention of dog biting
- Prevention of dog biting begins at home with your dog, as you are the person responsible for your dog. If you do not intend to breed your dog, neutering the dog will help you reduce the risk of biting behaviors.
Among the most important ways to prevent dog biting are:
- Exercise and play with your dog regularly to strengthen bonds and absorb extra energy to prevent dog biting
- Avoid aggressive games such as wrestling and tugging, which can lead to a problem of dominance and control in the dog.
- Train your dog in basic commands such as sitting, obedience to control pronation, and stop biting the dog
- Do not allow the dog to roam freely, as it could pose a danger to others
- Try to expose your dog to many different people and situations, but be careful not to overwhelm the dog
- Maintain your vaccinations in case of dangerous situations that may occur
- Seek help from your veterinarian if your dog shows any signs of aggression.
- If you have children you should take the time to educate them about how to behave with dogs, and what to do if dogs bite them.