Preventing dog bites.

1. Children should ask permission from a dog's owner before petting the dog. This will address any problems and allow the dog's owner to tell the children that the dog simply isn't friendly enough for that.

2. Don't stare into a dog's eyes. This is true for adults who want to avoid confrontations with dogs, as well. While it might seem good to gain "dominance" psychologically over a dog, this little trick can actually stir up aggression and insecurity in a dog that needs to feel dominant.

3. Don't interrupt a dog while it's sleeping or eating, or pet them from behind if you've never met them. Even friendly dogs can get the wrong idea if you don't let them "meet" you first by sniffing you and getting a good look at you.

4. Don't help dogs that are injured - get an adult instead. Children might be tempted to help injured dogs, but they most likely won't be able to do much to actually help it. They can avoid any potential behavior problems simply by consulting an adult.

5. Avoid dogs that are behind fences or on leashes. Especially don't tease these types of dogs - while it might seem that a child is protected because a dog is restrained in some way, there's no accounting for an unlocked fence door or another potential situation that might occur that didn't need to.

6. Strange dogs can feed off of aggression, so let your children know that it's important to remain calm even in the face of danger. Doing this will also help prevent panic and create the right state of mind to find the right solution to a potential problem.

7. Don't go for a dog's puppies while the dog is caring for them. One of the most dangerous ways to incite aggression in an animal is to be perceived as going for that animal's children. That's why you'll want to generally let a dog who is spending time with its puppies be - this is especially true for children who might not know how to send the mother or father the right message.

Photo Credits: ratterrell

Discourage puppy bites.

When you're raising a puppy, it's common to realize that you're doing a bit of taming - this is an animal that doesn't necessarily know why it has the surroundings it has. If you're going to relate to your puppy and raise it into a healthy adult dog, then you're going to have to make sure that you know how a puppy learns, and how you can supplement that learning by establishing a few boundaries.

One of the first boundaries you'll have to set with your puppy is nipping - a puppy does much of its exploring with its teeth and mouth and you'll find it's not uncommon to see a puppy that nips nearly everything around the house, including its owners. Let's take a look at the problem of nipping in puppies and see if we can figure out how to stop this behavior, or at least prevent it in the future.

First, you're going to have to understand puppies. Puppies aren't just little dogs - they're young dogs that are doing a lot of learning in a short amount of time. It's going to take a healthy amount of patience to make sure that you set boundaries for your puppy that are both consistent and clear. If you aren't setting any boundaries, then your puppy won't learn that there are limits to its behavior.

Understanding puppies means that you understand how they learn - they do a lot of their exploring with their mouth. Remember that dogs don't have opposable thumbs: they don't have the ability to pick up objects or touch at it with a set of fingers. A dog's feet are for moving and digging, not necessarily for handling objects. That's why many puppies will nip you - to learn more about this important figure in their life. They're not sure how you'll retaliate, either - learning that will be useful information to them.

In order to make sure that this kind of behavior isn't repeated is to set clear boundaries every single time your puppy nips at you inappropriately.

What's the definition of inappropriately?

Any time that the puppy's teeth make any contact with your skin whatsoever.

Once that occurs, make sure that you loudly and clearly say "no," and immediately change your mood. The puppy will have to tell that you're angry not from the words you're using, but from the strong tone of voice it uses. Make sure you also correct the behavior by moving the puppy away and making sure that it can't nip you again.

Photo Credits: me and the sysop

Chihuahua Puppy

-Adjustment time.

While dogs can adjust fairly quickly to a new environment, puppies are living through adjustments on a day-to-day basis, still figuring out how to navigate their way through the world. Separating a puppy from its mother initially can be quite a shock for a puppy, so don't necessarily worry if its behavior for a few days seems a little off. It's not uncommon for young dogs to feel a bit of separation anxiety for a little while - but the key is that eventually your puppy should acclimate itself to its new home. Give the puppy a break and know that many of the behaviors it exhibits will probably improve with time and training.

-Bonding.

Puppies are cute, so it's natural to want them to be as free and happy as possible in order to gain their affection. But if you're working with a new puppy, you'll have to resist the urge to avoid obedience training even more than you would with an adult dog. Puppies are in a crucial time in their lives, so it's essential that you establish a clear relationship from the get-go.

This relationship can't be built on the dog's power; it has to be about establishing your own boundaries. Don't be afraid to crate a puppy or correct it when it does something wrong. Don't be afraid to ignore it when it isn't giving you the behavior you'd like. Treat the puppy like a grown-up and it will grow up into a healthy adult.

-Breeding issues.

With puppies, breeding issues won't come up. Adults, however, especially young adult dogs, will definitely have these issues. Will the dog be used for breeding? Will you neuter your dog? These are important questions once your puppy grows up, and something you won't have to worry about in those few initial months of having a puppy.

Remember that your puppy isn't a dog yet, but also remember to keep your optimism. Old dogs can be taught new tricks, and puppies can learn to function as healthy adults given time.

Toronja Azul