Training Your Dog Not To Bite

A dog's teeth are deadly weapons, arranged in a jaw that is capable of delivering an immensely powerful bite force.

Fortunately, for us dog attacks on humans are extremely rare. Dogs would quickly lose their favored position as 'man's best friend', if that were not the case. But, it would be foolish to deny that dog attacks do happen. And when they do, the consequences are often tragic, for both victim and attacker.

As a dog owner one of your core responsibilities is to ensure the safety of your dog, as well as of the general public. So, if you have a dog that bites you need to address the behavior right away, even if your dog is only a puppy.

Why Dogs Bite

There are a number reasons for canine aggression, ranging from dominance to abuse.

The dog may bite if he is protecting his food or a favorite toy. Or he may snap to defend himself, for example, if he is being pestered by a child pulling his ears or tail. Another reason may be that the dog is in pain because of an injury or illness.

Or the aggression may stem from a need to find his place in the pack hierarchy. The dog may growl, posture, and mark territory and, if he feels he is not getting his point across, he may bite.

However, the most common cause of aggressive canine behavior is environmental. A dog that lives in poor conditions, is chained and treated harshly, and has little or no training and socialization, is always likely to bite.

How To Stop A Dog Biting

Biting problems often start in puppyhood. Many people think that a puppy that bites is cute, when actually it is a dominant behavior. Get the pup to release your sleeve or finger with a gentle pinch to the scruff of the neck then give him a toy to play with instead.

As the pup reaches sexual maturity at about 14 months, he may make a bid for pack leadership - especially if he hasn't been neutered, and hasn't had obedience training and socialization.

It is important that your dog is in no doubt as to your leadership position. This can be achieved without harsh treatment. By controlling walks and feeding, providing training, socialization and grooming, by consistency, you will automatically achieve this in most cases.

It also makes sense to take precautions if you are unsure of your dog's temperament. Never for example leave an aggressive dog unsupervised around children. And always keep an aggressive dog leashed, and possibly muzzled, in public places.

A dog that bites is a big challenge and may take considerable work to correct. If you feel unqualified to address the behavior I would urge you to consult a professional trainer, as one careless moment could have tragic consequences.

Youl find out more about how to control dog biting and other dog training tips at Dogs and Dog Training.