First, I believe it is always important to
define what is meant by bite.
Not for those who are familiar with working with dogs, but more for those who
have not had to deal with such things or are new to living with a dog.
When we say 'bite', what is meant? Do we mean break
the skin & sink teeth in; are we including a nip, leaving no impression in
the skin or a tiny mark?
I have a pack of ten dogs, and at one time or another they have all done the
bite thing (leaving an impression in the skin or a tiny mark). All they needed
was to be instructed the right way not to do this and repetition of incident
was not an issue.

We have many means to express ourselves and
protest especially with that opposable thumb of ours! Dogs have their mouth,
paws and legs to express protest.
As a Dog Whisperer, I also work with Red Zone' dogs who have broken the skin
and sunk teeth in - this is not the same as 'leaving an impression in the skin
or a tiny mark'. I rehabilitate the red zone dogs. The surrounding
circumstances and details of each situation need to be considered.
If we are talking about a red zone dog bite that is one thing. But I believe a
nip is a very different thing - easily addressed and when properly done so, re
occurrence is normally not an issue. This is just my opinion, based on years of
working with dogs and people & their dogs
It is my experience that issues with dogs start with their
people. Very, very few instances of a dog biting are unprovoked. The problem
resides in the narrow definition we often employ in using the word ‘provoked’.
PROVOCATION
CAN BE BROKEN DOWN IN TO TWO TIMELINES - IMMEDIATE & ACCUMULATED
Immediate
provocation may be very evident to all people.
Immediate provocation may also be only evident to those who really understand
and truly know how to read, interpret, establish the pathology of dog behaviour
and understand the psychology of dogs. I see both instances in my work with
people and their dogs. The result is a lot of assumption, emotion,
mis-interpretation and miss understanding….of the dog.
Accumulated provocation
is something that may be clearly evident (i.e. the dog is taunted repeated on
separate occasions. On the other hand accumulated provocation may be very
difficult for most people to identify. If the dog’s human companions have never
(or have ineffectively) embraced the role of leadership in their dog’s life,
the effect overtime is provocation. The lack of a) rules, boundaries and limitations,
and b) respectful consistent direction, correction, follow through (coaching
& mentoring); is provocation over time. Just as it would result in a human
acting out, so to for a dog.
When we pass the dog to someone else - we just
pass the problem on. When we summarily euthanize the dog we are making a huge
mistake.
When we do not take the opportunity to correct the dog in a
respectful, firm way without anger, fear or other emotions we create
psychological damage in the dog. We miss an opportunity to change future
outcomes - we make one more mistake in the dogs’ life - we set the dog up for
future failure…just as we would be doing with a human. I help people and their
dogs repair this type of issue all of the time.
There are very few dog attacks that are
not-unprovoked…it is just that no one was there at the right time to intervene
in the right way when the provocation first started to build.
A dog that nips has already been let down by humanity - it
does not need to be euthanized, it does not want to be bad - it just wants
someone to step up to the plate and provide it with kind, considered direction.
If not addressed in time the nip eventually
turns to a bit and the bite can turn into a deathly compressive lockdown. Not
the dogs fault - humanities fault.
For those who have suffered from traumatic dogs bites
(either human or animal companions), for those who have died as a result of an
attack by a dog and for their loved ones who are left to try to understand - it
is a tragic and life altering situation. But 99.9% of this time it is the
humans behind the reactive dog who are at fault - not the dog who is euthanized.
Very few dogs are born with 'bad wiring'.
Because dogs live in the moment it is easier to change a dog's 'bad habits' than it is a
human's. Humans carry grudges, dogs do not. Dogs are very forgiving and treat
each day, each experience as a new beginning. It is only with difficulty that
we are able to convince, permit and allow ourselves to do the same.
Many of my client’s come to me as a last resort before
making the decision to euthanize their dogs. Not one of the dogs I have worked
with to date required euthanasia - they were not hopeless cases, they just had
not received the direction that they asked for and were left to make up their
own rules. I most cases one four hour session with me was all that was required
to turn the situation around.
If your dog shows signs of reactivity - is nipping or
biting…get help, don’t ignore. Get help. But make sure that you get the right
help - e-collars, prong collars are not beneficial tools to address this
situation, neither is trying to break the state with treats.
Patience, will, determination, persistence,
respect and an understanding of dog and human psychology are key. Coach and
mentor the dog, train the people.
Additional Assistance
If
you require additional support and guidance I would be pleased to assist you
via my In-Person or On-Line Services…
Dog Obedience Training
and Behaviour Modification Services:
- Unbiased Diet, Nutrition, Product Advice is
available via this
service
- Holistic Diet, Nutrition Wellness Plans are
available via this
service
Notes:
Please note - this article is for information purposes and is not a
substitute for an in-person Session with me. When working with dogs I use many
techniques - it is important to note that this article may touch on one or
several techniques but not all. I select the technique that I use for a particular
dog based on my observations of the dog and an intuitive, instinctive
assessment of that dog's and its human's individual requirements. For example
when I am working with a dog that is hyper sensitive and very physically
reactive I will not use voice or touch. I use a lot of therapeutic touch on
some dogs, others require the use of herding techniques and so on. Each and
every technique must be combined with:
- an understanding of the real
intelligence, sensitivity and capability of dogs;
- an understanding of how to
read a dog's face and a dog's overall body language;
- an understanding of the full
spectrum of ways that humans communicate and dogs communicate;
- understanding and
recognition of the individual that is each dog - no two dogs are the
same...taking a 'cookie cutter' approach to techniques is not the way to
work with a dog;
- a complete recognition and
understanding of all the elements that feed a behaviour and create an
issue:
- the vast majority of
people can only identify one or two elements...which vastly inhibits the
ability to resolve behavior issues;
- behaviours do not exist in
isolation - there are always many elements that feed a single behaviour,
there all always multiple behaviours that create a behavioral issue;
- self-restraint and discipline
on the part of the human who is directing the dog;
- sensitivity, awareness,
intuition, instinct and timing on the part of the human who is directing
the dog;
- to understand, connect with
and adapt quickly and effectively to a dog's learning requirements you
must be able to employ the same tools a dog uses - acute sensitivity,
awareness, instinct, intuition and timing;
- kindness, endurance,
consideration, patience, persistence, perspective, the ability and know
how to let the past go, the ability to set realistic expectations at any
one point in time;
- the creation of structure,
rules, boundaries and limitations for each situation at the macro and
micro level;
- understanding of all the
elements that make up an instruction and direction to a dog...there are
multiple steps involved in an instruction - not just one!
- absolute honesty - if you
cannot be honest with yourself you will not be able to communicate clearly
with a dog.
These are just some of the techniques that I teach my clients - it is a
holistic, all-encompassing approach. If you are missing any one element of the
above mentioned your success rate will be affected to one degree or another in
implementing the techniques offered in the article presented above.
Our 4 year old terrier-poodle cross just bit my 9 year old daughter's friend in the arm, hard enough to puncture the skin through her sweater. They were playing an video game and not bothering him at all. A week ago, he bit an associate of my husband's who was gently petting him. He punctured the skin on his hand. Our dog has always been somewhat timid and barks a lot, especially at people when they come to the door (including us), but biting is new behavior for him. What are your thoughts? - CCM
ReplyDeleteTwo bites in two weeks, no longer holding back, but now puncturing the skin...your dog's behavior is definitely reached a point of escalation. This is not an indication that your dog is a bad dog, nor is it an indication that your dog needs to be 'Put to Sleep' (euthanized). I have worked with many clients whose dogs have exhibited this behavior and far worse. In a four hour session I have had no trouble rehabilitating the dog and showing the people how to provide proper leadership for their dog. So please do not listen to friends, family, neighbors or any Dog Trainer, Behaviorist or Veterinarian that says the dog must be put on drugs or be euthanized. However, if your dog does not get the direction that he requires the behavior will continue and worsen. The biting is not the issue, it is simply a symptom, insecurity born of lack of leadership is the issue. This is a psychological state (yours and your dogs)and is easily reversible. You need to have some coaching on how to properly provide direction, , structure, rules, boundaries for your dog. You also need a little help understanding your dog. As well you need to understand all of the ways you are communicating the wrong message to your dog. This should not and cannot be treated by employing dominant or aggressive training methods, pinch collars, electric collars and cannot be cured by 'treat training'. Read this to understand a little more http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.ca/2011/11/what-is-dog-whisperer-anyway.html I suggest you get help to resolve this ASAP. I can help you if you are in the Ottawa Area or the Ottawa Valley as I service that region.
ReplyDeleteKaren, I strongly disagree. My dog would attack other dogs and people totally unprovoked. He was a wonderfully loyal dog to me but there were numerous instances where he would go clearly out of the way.....break his leash or pull me to the ground to go bite somebody a block away. Turned out the poor dog had Canine OCD and Anxiety phobia. Yes, I had to have him euthanized after he bite (broke the skin) of several people. I still cry and feel bad but it was getting worse...a typical sign of OCD in dogs. Yes, dogs can have mental problems just like people.
ReplyDeleteYour dog's 'behaviour' is TYPICAL of many of the dogs I work with, who have been labelled as 'OCD'. These dogs do not NEED to be killed - they need to be properly supported to treat the behaviour via DIET and BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION. Many people come to me saying 'there was no trigger'. The fact that you do not understand the trigger does NOT mean that the trigger is not present. I have yet to find a situation where there was no trigger. The fact that a trainer or veterinarian or owner does not have the dietary and behavioral knowledge to support healthy behavioral change is not a limitation of the dog but of the human. Fixing 'behaviour' starts with the teaching the human. You can choose to learn what you did not know at the time, which could have saved your dog's life or you can continue to 'disagree' due to lack of informing yourself. Sometimes hearing the TRUTH is painful - but that is how we learn and grow - or conversely choose not to. I recommend that you start here http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.ca/2014/11/stress-anxiety-and-your-dog-enable-good.html and by the way I live with a dog that was as your dog WAS - the difference is this dog had and embraced the opportunity to shine - a chance that your dog never had http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.ca/robbie-my-pit-bull-x-boxer/
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