Have you ever heard your dog growl or snap at a child and wonder, "What brought that on?" Sometimes people think that a bite came out of nowhere, but that is rarely the case. The dog has usually sent many signals that he is uncomfortable with the situation, but the people around him don't see or understand these signals.
Most dogs don't want to bite anyone. When a particular environment or human interaction is stressing them out, they generally try to leave the area. If that doesn't work because they have no way to leave or the human keeps engaging in this stress-inducing behavior, they might start exhibiting some stress signals. These can include lip licking, yawning out of context, and gaze avoidance. If these are ignored, the dog may then proceed to send more-direct signals of discomfort like growling or curling his lip to show his teeth. If even these signals are ignored, the dog may feel that he has no choice but to bite in order to make the distressing behavior stop.
To avoid dog bites from happening, you have to become dog-aware on two fronts. First, you need to know what kinds of things generally cause stress for dogs so that you can prevent yourself and your kids from engaging in these behaviors. Prevention is always the best way to go. Second, you need to be aware of what stress signals are for dogs.
Stress-inducing activities to avoid:
- bothering dogs when they are eating or sleeping
- hugging or kissing dogs, most of them don't like it
- handling dogs roughly, pet dogs gently from collar to tail
- screaming, loud noises, and big crowds around dogs (parties, fireworks)
Stress signal awareness:
If for some reason you were not able to prevent the distress-causing behavior to occur, then you also need to become aware of what those stress signals are so that you can recognize when your dog is exhibiting them and know that it's time to move him away from the environment and/or behavior that's causing the distress. It's important not to punish a dog for exhibiting these signs of stress, like growling. These are his warning signals to you. You want him to give you that warning. If he feels that he can no longer give those warnings, he might just go straight to the bite, without a warning next time.
Teaching your dog to view his crate as a safe place is a great training tool. If you know that things at home are going to get a little rambunctious due to festivities, allow your dog to retreat to his crate in a quiet room away from the commotion. Give him a special treat, like a Kong toy filled with peanut butter to keep him busy and happy.
Listening to what your dog is trying to tell you and respecting his needs will not only make him happier, but it will help keep everyone in your family safe.
Alicia Obando worked at Chicago's oldest and largest animal shelter for 2 years and at the largest Chicago Veterinary ER and Specialty Center for 5 years. She has participated in hundreds of hours of pet care education including an 8-week course called Behavior Fundamentals, which teaches about canine behavior and communication. In 2012, she founded the non-profit, Pets Are Like Family, an all volunteer-run organization that helped pet parents with limited resources take care of their pets. Over the years, she has counseled hundreds of families regarding child care and pet care. In 2015 Alicia created the company, Pitter Patter Parenting, to bring together her love of working with families and pets. Her mission is to help families manage their pets in a way that encourages safe and healthy relationships for everyone in the family.
