Dog Bites: If You Think Your Dog Won't Bite, Think Again!

If I had a cent for every time I heard a dog guardian say, “my dog would never bite” I’d be ready to retire on a lovely estate in Sentosa Cove!

I hate to be the bearer of some harsh truths, but:

ALL. DOGS. ARE. BITE. RISKS.

While its true that most pet dogs have extraordinary, uncalled for patience when it comes to their human companions (they seriously put up with A LOT), its also true that if pushed beyond a limit, even the most docile dog can be a biter.

Its often the same guardians that had this unfounded confidence that their dogs would never bite, that find themselves saying “he bit me out of the blue!”.

It’s never “out of the blue”.

Most dogs need to be pushed beyond a certain limit before they resort to biting. If you are on the receiving end of a dog bite, or the guardian of a dog that has bitten someone unexpectedly, it’s likely that you missed all the earlier lower-level signals of discomfort your dog gave, before escalating to a bite.

 

The Canine Ladder of Aggression – The Stuff Before the Bite

No dog goes from 0-100 without hitting all the numbers in between – just like with humans.

Take the example of someone pulling your hair. Its annoying, and at first you might politely ask the person to stop. If they don’t stop, you might raise your voice. If they still don’t stop, you might smack their hand away, or maybe even push them away.

Dogs operate the same way. Before escalating to a bite, they will display several lower-level signals such as looking away, turning away, lip-licking, yawning, growling, before resorting to a bite.

The only time you’ll find a dog not display these lower-level signals and start of right away with a bite, are dogs that have learned over time that humans ignore their lower-level signals, and it’s no use yawning or growling; bites seem to be the only thing that work! These are often the dogs that seem to bite unexpectedly.

 

Learn Dog Body Language

We all know the serious trouble dogs and their guardians can get into if there has been a bite incident. Singapore laws and regulations are, rightly, very stringent when it comes to public safety.

As a responsible dog guardian, its imperative that you learn dog body language so that you know what your dog’s early signs of discomfort are. That way you can intervene before they feel the need to escalate their behavior towards a bite and potentially cost you a SGD 5000 fine!

Learning dog body language is like learning any new language. You need to practice it to become good at it. Practice involves simply being present and watching your dog when you or someone else interacts with them. Erring on the side of caution, and removing your dog from the interaction or situation when you notice an early sign of discomfort is better than waiting it out and pushing the dog too far into discomfort.

Initially it might seem like you’re guessing at what they might be communicating, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly you are able to figure out what your dog is saying if you consistently practice it for a week!

 

In Short

Being a responsible and devoted dog guardian requires you to be Proactive, Attentive and Mindful.

Be proactive and learn dog body language. If you need support here, I have a FREE Dog Body Language Guide that will give you all the information you need, with videos, images and text explaining what your dog might be saying in each situation.

Be attentive and put what you’ve learned into action by being present and watchful of your dog’s body language. Take the necessary action if you find them displaying signs of discomfort by removing them from the interaction or situation that is making them uncomfortable

Be mindful of the fact that, YES, even your gentle baby is capable of a bite if pushed far enough. Just because they haven’t yet been pushed to that point, doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen.

If you are able to do all of the above, you are well on your way to keeping the Singaporean public, yourself and your dog safe!

A stronger than ever, joyous relationship with your best bud is within reach

I specialize in turning challenging dog behaviors into opportunities for growth and bonding. My personalized virtual training focuses on modern, science-based, holistic, positive reinforcement methods designed to get to the root of the problem by fostering clear communication and effective training.