As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States per year, and around 800,000 seek medical assistance for dog bites. A significant number, isn’t it?
There are several reasons for a canine to bite, and it includes fright, being terrified or coerced, striving to protect their food or toys, disease, or pain. They can also bite during their plays.
The biting behavior does not depend upon the breed of the dogs. Thus, dogs of all breeds are unique, and it isn’t reasonable to predict them.
We leash our beloved dogs in public and immunize them against diseases. So, can’t we prevent our dogs from biting our family members and guests by understanding the early signs that your dog is about to bite?
In this article, we will cover up the warning signs that a dog may bite, and we’ll share how you can avoid being bitten by your dog.
- 7 Warning Signs That A Dog May Bite
- 9 Ways to Stop Your Dog From Biting
- 1. Basic Training for Your Dogs
- 2. Build a Bond With Your Dog
- 3. Have Your Dog a Life Outside Kennel
- 4. Observe and Understand Your Dog
- 5. Never Attempt Physical Aggression With Your Dog
- 6. Leashing
- 7. Socialize Your Furry Friend
- 8. Sterilize or Neuter Your Dog
- 9. Understand The Situations To Leave a Dog Alone
- Final Thoughts!
7 Warning Signs That A Dog May Bite
As discussed above, dogs always give warning signs before they proceed to bite. While the signs can be too vague to identify, you must know how to predict their biting behavior. Below are 7 vital signs that will help you recognize that your dog is about (or maybe) to bite:
1. Tense And Stiff Look
The canine may appear tense and stiff, with their ears back, lips tightly together, and tail folded. This posture of the canine indicates that it is scared and, if forced, could bite. If you see your dog giving this kind of look, it’s advisable to command them.
2. Appears Puffed Up
The canine seems puffed up and afraid, with their ears upright. Also, their lips will be tightly together, tail held up, chest puffed out, and hackles lifted. In this situation, make sure to keep a suitable distance from your canine and let them be alone.
3. Barking
There will be situations when you see your dog barking, even when they’re playing with their toys. Some breeds prefer to communicate through barking and should not be confused with aggressiveness. Always try to train your dog on minimizing their barking behavior.
Related: How to stop excessive barking in dogs?
4. Shows Their Teeth
Many dog breeds like to show their teeth more often. If you see your dog with its mouth wide open and showing teeth combined with a scary stare, then that’s a warning sign of biting. In case your dog shows frequently shows aggressive signs, you can try a mouth muzzle or protectors for them.
5. Stalking
If your dog is stalking you, with his head low to the floor and a stuffy body posture, it’s a possibility they may bite you. To deal with this, you can avoid seeing them directly into their eyes and ignore them. This way, they will lose eye contact with you and calm down.
6. Looks Tense and Staring
If your little companion is looking tense and staring at someone, that may indicate that he is about to bite. Dogs get tensed out quickly as they get bored and have nothing to do most of the time. They lick their paws, chew on furniture, or even bite to kill their boredom.
7. Chewing Bones
If you see your canine is eating and chewing on a bone, or having any object in their mouth, then it may be a sign of aggressiveness. Showing aggressiveness while chewing is not common in dogs; however, a little attention is required from your end.
9 Ways to Stop Your Dog From Biting
If your dog exhibits the behavior of biting, it should be noted and discouraged. We recommend all dog parents train their dogs and avoid potential risks. You must restrain your dog under control and should do what you can to prevent dog bites by applying these easy techniques.
1. Basic Training for Your Dogs
Always have basic training for your dog on behaviors. Also, go on with practicing what your canine memorized from the training process. Let them practice it over and over furthermore until it becomes a part of their daily routine.
Related: How to stop a dog from jumping on you?
2. Build a Bond With Your Dog
We all know that dogs are very much socially active. They like playing and interacting with humans. Let them engage with the people you are familiar with. This will equip your canine to not feel discomfort when coming across a stranger.
3. Have Your Dog a Life Outside Kennel
Let your dog engage and interact with other dogs and listen to noisy street sounds. Just be certain to keep the event favorable for them. It will be more effective if you attempt to do it in the very early stages of their life.
4. Observe and Understand Your Dog
Some events or factors can activate your dog’s tension. Occasionally you can’t do anything to solve the problem or calm your dog. When this occurs, move your canine away to a comfortable area, so he can recoup his peace.
5. Never Attempt Physical Aggression With Your Dog
Hitting and negative reinforcement on your dogs will get you no benefits; instead, appreciate your pooch when he exhibits good manners. Favorable reinforcement has been substantiated as more beneficial than using scare collars or resistors.
6. Leashing
Do not take off your canine’s leash if you are not sure about how he will act in public areas. For pet parents who are aware of their canine’s easily annoying behavior, it is critical to notify other people. Make sure you train them on leash in their early phases of life.
7. Socialize Your Furry Friend
By familiarizing your canine with other pets and people, you will encourage them to feel more livable overall. Enlightening your canine with normal situations will make them less likely to become frightened and bite. Still, you should let your sweetheart go at their tempo. Don’t compel them to interact with people and other pets when they are anxious.
Related: How to socialize a dog?
8. Sterilize or Neuter Your Dog
Researches have indicated that altering your pet can benefit and reduce their chance of biting. Before deciding to neuter or spay your dog, it’s important to discuss all the consequences with your vet. Not every breed is suitable for neutering, and it’s costly as well.
9. Understand The Situations To Leave a Dog Alone
Several circumstances can bring a dog more potential to bite. Those constitute when he is eating, napping, weak, injured, sick, etc. You should also never touch on a dog you don’t know without consent from its pet parent or any female canine who is with her pups.
Final Thoughts!
Dogs give warning signs almost every single time before biting somebody. No matter what breed or how adequately trained or socialized, it is extremely rare for a canine to bite someone really out of the blue. However, if you do not see the indications, you are not attending to what your pooch is so desperately striving to say to you before he tries his ultimate choice.
All canines can bite regardless of size, breed, or age if they are prompted. While there are easy things pet owners can do to avoid dog bites from occurring, it is equally significant to first comprehend what a dog is trying to warn you from its body language and attitudes. Kids are most likely to be the target of dog bites, so do not leave them isolated with a pet.
If you see your dog tends to be contentious, anxious, or worried, consider getting aid from a certified veterinarian.
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