Q.
My dog just bit my guest without any warning. He has never done this before. What is going on?
A.
Dog bites are considered a public health concern. Millions of people get bitten every year. Most bites involve children 5 years old and younger with many of these incidents being preventable. There are many reasons a bite can occur, and it doesn’t mean your best friend is a bad dog.
A gentle, well-trained pup could bite in the right circumstance. Our job as guardians is to recognize what can provoke Fido to bite and to prevent it. Generally, the common reasons include fear, pain, resource guarding, and defensive aggression.
If a dog feels threatened, cornered, or startled by something unexpected, he may bite. Even the sweetest dog could bite if he is in pain or sick. Resource guarding is a common reason for a bite. Dogs will defend their valuables such as food, toys, and where they sleep. Defensive aggression happens when he feels threatened, and he will try to create space or distance from the perceived threat. Less common is offensive aggression when a dog actively approaches to bite, this usually involving territory. Play biting happens with puppies and youngsters. Sometimes if Fido can’t reach the perceived threat, he could redirect his frustrations on to someone close by.
We can prevent these events by recognizing basic dog language. Looking back, most guardians will describe early signals their best friend exhibited. When looking at all those cute pictures of babies hugging the family dog, look at the dog’s body language. Common behaviors telling the guardian Fido is not comfortable includes licking lips, looking away, showing whites of their eyes, tense body, and ears back to name a few. These behaviors can progress, if ignored, to a low growl, a lifted lip, and a snap. Now that you are aware your best friend is uncomfortable, it is up to you to intervene. Always have a responsible adult supervising children and dogs. Teach children how to approach and interact with dogs. Step in at the first sign of your dog’s discomfort. Proper socialization and training teach positive behaviors and confidence. When encountering a stray dog, avoid approaching him and have no direct eye contact because the dog may perceive it as a threat. If your dog’s aggressive behavior is a change, seek veterinary help to assess his health. Illness and pain can change behavior. From there, seek guidance from a qualified veterinarian or a professional dog trainer. If your dog has a history of biting, muzzle training is an acceptable alternative. Harsh punishment can escalate the problem and is not helpful in the long run. Biting during play can de-escalate by calmly disengaging or redirecting with a toy or command.
When the bite results in broken skin, clean the wound with soap and water and seek professional help.
Dogs bite for a variety of reasons. The majority of events happen in specific situations where the dog feels threatened. It is up to us to be our best friend’s advocate by recognizing what makes him feel stressed and avoiding challenging events.
Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH
Animal Wellness Center
Augusta, Maine
www.mainehomeopahticvet.com