By: DOGeNEWS
A Short List of Reasons Why Dogs Bite
By Michael Royce
Every dog comes equipped with a set of shiny, pointy, sharp
teeth. And his or her teeth can be used as a tool or a weapon.
They're a tool when your pooch uses them to pick up something,
scratch an itchy spot, or rip his food apart (dog's don't
actually chew you know). But they're also a weapon when they're
used to protect Fido by inflicting pain on someone or something
that means him harm.
So the question is, what makes a dog use his teeth as a weapon
(especially when you can't think of a reason why he
should)?...here's the short list.
Your Dog is Afraid of Something...
Every dog has a different nature. Some are more easily
frightened than others...and some (especially rescue dogs) are
afraid because they've been abused.
If your dog is biting because he's afraid, you'll need to
remove whatever is causing that fear. You also may need to apply
a lot of TLC and patience.
Your Dog is Too Excited...
Believe it or not, even the laziest mutt can get over-excited
if they're played with too roughly or for too long. This is
especially true of younger dogs.
If you get "nipped" during a little rough-housing, you'll need
to learn to tone it down and not rile Rover up too much the next
time.
Your Dog is Challenging You...
It's in a dog's nature to try to get ahead. By that I mean they
naturally vie for "leader of the pack" status from time to time.
His biting could mean he's looking for a promotion (because he
sees you as his competition).
You'll need to put him in his place. Face him down with some
very firm "No's." Ignoring him on purpose and feeding him after
you've eaten are good techniques too.
Your Dog is in Pain...
He could be ill; he could have an injury...they can't exactly
tell us so we don't know. But an obvious "tell" would be if you
try to pet him on a certain part of his body and he growls and
nips his disapproval.
Obviously, this situation calls for some veterinary attention.
Even if you're not sure, it wouldn't hurt to err on the side of
caution and have a vet check him out.
Your Dog was Surprised...
Sneaking up on your buddy and yelling "Boo" in his ear when
he's napping is a good way to get twenty teeth marks in your
face. Shoot, if you did it to me, I might do the same.
This one's really a no-brainer, so as my daughter used to say
when she was in diapers, "No Do Dat."
There you have it, the short list of why your dog bites. If
this is more than just a situational problem (like in the case
of an abused rescue dog that exhibits the behavior all the
time), you'll need at least a lot of patience and kindness...but
you might need some expert assistance as well. Play it safe.
Hope this helps and thanks for reading...
About the Author: Michael Royce is an amateur dog trainer who
has lived with, trained, (and been trained by) more than a dozen
dogs in the last 25 years. He is a regular contributor to
several websites and is co-founder of http://The-Dog-Zone.net
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=264421&ca=Pets
