When is a Dog Bite Malicious?

For many families or couples, getting a new dog isn't always just fun - it can also be a learning experience. This is particularly true if you find a new dog or puppy that exhibits some behavior problems. It's not fun to have to explain to your children that the new dog you brought home needs to find another home. But for many people, this isn't always true - sometimes, the behavior doesn't necessitate any extreme changes. So how do you tell if a dog bite, one of the most glaring signs that the dog needs a change, is really malicious or not?

First, you'll have to consider the context in which the bite takes place. Anyone who's played with a dog by playing a little "tug of war" knows that dogs don't always growl or show their teeth because they are being aggressive towards humans. Sometimes, they may even be letting out their aggression in a healthy way.

With this in mind, you'll want to ask yourself what the context of your dog bite says about your dog. Was a child simply trying to pet your dog and the dog snapped back? Did the dog bite a stranger? These would be examples of more malicious, aggressive bites that you'll want to consult a professional about.

Second, you'll want to consider the dog's behavior as a whole. If you have a dog whose aggression problems seem to be constant, then you might have trouble on your hands. But if your dog has traditionally remained peaceful and calm around most people and only seems to snap in certain situations, there's a good chance that this kind of behavior can be "trained out of" an otherwise healthy dog. This means looking at the dog's biting in the overall context of its general demeanor and its past.

Third, you'll want to consider who the dog bites. If a dog bites both you and strangers, then you're probably looking at a dog with real behavioral problems that won't be fixed overnight. If the dog only bites strangers, then you still have a problem - but on a lesser scale. You might be able to consult a dog trainer in order to help a dog to improve its social skills and to find better avenues to take out its aggression.

Remember that what's important in telling if a dog bite is malicious is not always the bite itself - it's the context that surrounds it: the situation when the bite took place, the dog's life, and the dog's patterns of behavior. But make sure to take dog bites seriously so that you don't make the mistake of assuming too well of your animal.

Photo Credits: Lucas Vieira Moreira

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aggression problems, behavior problems, couples, demeanor, dog bite, dog trainer, dogs, extreme changes, getting a new dog, good chance, learning experience, little tug, puppy, signs, stranger, teeth, trouble on your hands, tug of war

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Tips for Dog Owners

Posted by Dog Training Pet on February 21, 2010 in Tips for Dog Owners. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.