
Canines are undoubtedly a man’s best friend and the love that they have towards their owner is often truly indescribable. Moreover, you will hardly ever come across a pet as loyal as a dog.
Speaking of pooches, they have countless numbers of characteristics, which we’re pretty sure you might already know. So, today we thought of covering an altogether different behaviour – them biting you! Of course, this is also a common thing about dogs, but it surely isn’t a manner to be entertained.
That being said, below we have mentioned some reasons why your dog might develop this habit of biting people. Read on and get to know how you can avoid it.
1. Possessiveness
Possessiveness is not only found in human beings, but it’s also a common behaviour in dogs. They usually become possessive when they’re trying to guard their property. Here, a property could be anything from a toy to their owner.
So, if you find your pooch starting to show such kind of behaviour, then you better teach him/her the ‘Leave’ command. This way, they will learn to leave things whenever they’re asked to before this behaviour takes over.
2. Fear
At times, a dog might fear from strange situations or people; for example when they’re visiting the vet for the first time. And what could be even worse is their fear leading them to bite people around them.
So, to keep your four-legged buddy away from such fears, take them out frequently to help them get accustomed to the outside world, people and more importantly other dogs. It will also help you reduce the risk of phobia in your dog.
3. Pain
Pain is the worst thing that can make even the friendliest dog bite. If your furry buddy has got a wound or is suffering from an injury, then it’s better not to bother (of course, after you’re done taking them to the vet!) and stay away from them as much as possible. Because pain makes a dog snippy and that can lead them to biting people.
4. Maternal Instincts
If you think that once you have properly trained your pooch it would stop biting anything and everything around it, then you are wrong. Even a well-trained dog can bite, especially when she whelps puppies. This is because of the fear or feeling of insecurity for her new-borns. So, if you have a female pooch who has whelped recently, then respect her maternal instincts and provide her with a safe place where she can feel secure with her puppies.
Also, ask your kids not to touch the puppies when the mother is around or use cautions while handling them.
5. Prey Drive
If you ever come across a dog while jogging or cycling, then it’s better to stop right there rather than running, as it would end up in a chase. Instead, stand still and face them; by doing just that, they will come and sniff only to eventually find you uninteresting. But, make sure that you are not looking them in the eye, as that would provoke them to come and bite you.
Also, teach your kids to do the same when they happen to find themselves stranded around a street dog.
So, these are some of the possible reasons that can make a dog bite. Now that you know these, let’s take a look at some general ways to stop their aggressive behaviour or biting:
- Play with your buddy on a daily basis to reinforce human-dog bonding.
- Avoid playing aggressive games with canines like wrestling.
- Make sure your furry friend is doing enough exercise according to its breed and temperament.
- Train your tyke at an early age.
- Teach it basic, yet necessary commands like sit, eat, lie down, leave and come, to name a few.
- Socialise your dog with new people, locations and situations at an early age.
- Get them vaccinated at the right time.
- Groom your furry pal on a regular basis using good quality dog clippers.
- Visit the vet if your buddy shows any sign of aggression or unusual behaviour.
- Educate your kids on how to play and act around a dog
We hope this article will help you to identify and stop the biting behaviour in your beloved best pal.