Today we will talk about an unpleasant situation: the dog bit the owner. How to behave, how to react, is it worth punishing the dog and what to do to prevent this behavior from happening again? About this in the article.
Why do dogs bite?
My dog bit me. She deliberately wanted to harm me? Offended that I didn’t give her a double portion of food? Is she taking revenge for going to work and not going out with her? Or is it genes to blame? Let’s figure it out.
A dog never seeks to offend a person. Doesn’t think of a revenge plan. Doesn’t try to “teach” a lesson. For her, a bite is self-defense.
The reasons for a dog’s aggressive behavior can be divided into two large groups: physiological or psychological.
- Physiological reasons are associated with the well-being of the dog and the conditions of detention. A dog may bite if it is painful or, for example, if it is agitated due to stress. That is, when the dog is physically uncomfortable.
- Psychological reasons are when a dog is protecting itself or what belongs to it. She finds herself in a situation where she is forced to take an extreme measure – to bite. In her opinion, she was in serious danger and this is the only way to defend herself. The bite in this case is a natural reaction of the animal to a strong stimulus, and it is important for the owner to understand this.
Fear and self-defense are the most common reasons dogs bite.
Dogs don’t like biting. The bite is a compulsory measure.
Usually, before biting, the dog demonstrates with all its appearance: do not come close to me.
She may try to move away, turn away, curl her ears, growl or snarl, lick her lips. And if the “offender” does not respond to signals and approaches her – what else is there? She bites because she is cornered.
If your dog has bitten you, don’t blame it on “bad genes” or “poor training”. Several factors lead to this behavior at once: the dog’s predisposition, its life experience, upbringing, environment, well-being … At some point, it all comes together like a puzzle – and the pet bites its owner.
It’s unpleasant, but you shouldn’t exaggerate either. Aggression is a natural reaction of an animal to a stimulus, he had no chance to cope with it. Therefore, we forgive our pet, be patient and correct behavior so that this does not happen again.
The dog can bite the owner (or another person) during the game, overplaying. This often happens if, as a child, the owner allowed the puppy to bite his arms or legs. This is the wrong approach, attempts to bite must be stopped immediately. When a little puppy bites your fingers, it can seem cute. But the dog will grow up, and the habit will remain. A dog handler or a zoopsychologist will help to understand this situation.
How to behave during and after a bite
1. Try not to make sudden movements
Yes. This is hard. But if you are in control, do not pull your hand out of your mouth, do not pull away abruptly, and do not run out of the room. Abrupt movements can scare the dog even more and provoke it to a second bite.
2. Don’t punish the dog
At first glance, such a recommendation runs counter to common sense. “ How is it: the dog bit me, but I won’t do anything? “. But let’s think again.
If the dog bit you, it means that it was very frightened by something and defended its borders. It is a fact. Do not even console yourself with the thought that she “deliberately wanted to offend you”, “did it in spite”, “took revenge” – this does not happen in the world of dogs. What happens if you punish a frightened dog? You will scare her even more, drive her into a state of severe stress, ruin the relationship between you. This is a direct path to bullying, serious behavioral disturbances, and loss of trust and respect for your pet.
But you still need to react. It is enough to strictly say “no” and calmly leave the room. And then already think about how to correct the pet’s behavior.
3. Pull yourself together
We agree that the situation is unpleasant. But if the bite is harmless (and we really hope that it is), try to pull yourself together and improve the relationship with the dog. You don’t have to go hugging her right now. Come to your senses, calm down, have some tea, and then continue to live as usual.
Believe me, in such a situation, your dog is also nervous. She feels your condition and is afraid. She always needs your care, and in such a situation – especially.
What to do so that the situation does not repeat itself
You already understand that a bite is a consequence of a dog’s fright, a reaction to a strong stimulus, and you know that you cannot punish it for this. But this does not mean that such behavior should be dismissed. If nothing is done, it can happen again. So what do you do?
First, think about the reason why the dog bit you. If the reason is clear, great. If not, and the dog seemed to bite you “from scratch” – contact your zoopsychologist or veterinarian. The dog may be sick and painful, or it may have an injury that you were not aware of. A specialist will help you figure it out.
If the reason is clear, start working on the dog’s behavior. Her fear needs to be worked through and it can take time. The main thing here is to remain a friend for the pet, to encourage him, and not to aggravate the situation with “punishments”.
And one more important point. Learn how to handle your dog properly and teach it to others. Is always.
We tend to give dogs our own motives and judge them “by ourselves”, but these are completely different creatures, with their own perception of the world and feelings. It is important for dog owners to be able to read the signals of the pet’s body, feel its mood, and be aware of the possibilities. This will help you understand what to expect from your pet. What can and cannot be required of him.
If you have children in your family, serious work must be done with them. They need to be told when the dog can be played and when it should be left alone. And, of course, the child should not interfere with the dog’s eating, sleeping and hurting him not even on purpose. Respect for each other’s boundaries will help maintain peace and understanding in the family.
We believe in you!
