The dog bit the owner: what to do?

My dog ​​bit me. Did she purposely want to hurt me? Offended that I did not give her a double portion of food? Revenge for leaving for work, and not going for a walk with her? Or is it the genes? Let’s figure it out.

A dog never seeks to offend a person. Doesn’t plan revenge. Doesn’t try to teach. For her, the bite is self-defense.

The reasons for the aggressive behavior of a dog can be divided into two large groups: physiological or psychological.

• Physiological reasons are related to the well-being of the dog and the conditions of detention. The dog may bite if it is in pain or, for example, if it is in an agitated state due to stress. That is, when the dog is physically uncomfortable.
• Psychological causes – when a dog is defending itself or something that belongs to it. She finds herself in a situation where she is forced to take the extreme measure – to bite. In her opinion, she was in serious danger and the only way to defend herself. A bite in this case is a natural reaction of an animal to a strong stimulus, and it is important for the owner to understand this.

Fear and self-defense are the most common reasons why dogs bite.

Dogs don’t like biting. A bite is a forced measure. 

Usually, before biting, the dog demonstrates with his whole appearance: do not approach me.

She tries to move away, turns away, purses her ears, growls or grins, licks her lips. And if the “offender” does not respond to signals and approaches her – what else is left? She bites because she’s cornered.

If a dog bites you, don’t blame everything on “bad genes” or “bad training”. Several factors lead to this behavior at once: the dog’s predisposition, its life experience, upbringing, environment, well-being … At some point, everything comes together like a puzzle – and the pet bites the owner. 

It’s unpleasant, but it’s not worth exaggerating either. Aggression is a natural reaction of an animal to an irritant, he had no chance to cope with it. Therefore, we forgive our pet, stock up on patience and correct behavior so that this does not happen again. 

The dog may bite the owner or another person during the game, playing too much. This often happens if, in childhood, the owner allowed the puppy to bite his arms or legs. This is the wrong approach, attempts to bite should be stopped immediately. When your fingers are bitten by a small puppy, it can seem cute. But the dog will grow up, but the habit will remain. A cynologist or zoopsychologist will help to understand this situation.

1. Try not to make sudden movements

Yes. This is hard. But if you are in control of the situation, do not pull your hand out of your mouth, do not pull away abruptly, and do not run out of the room. Sudden movements can frighten the dog even more and provoke him to a second bite.

2. Don’t punish your dog

At first glance, this recommendation seems counterintuitive. “How is it: a dog has bitten me, but I will not do anything?“. But let’s think again.

If a dog bit you, it means that she was very scared of something and defended her borders. It is a fact. Don’t even console yourself with the thought that she “specially wanted to offend you”, “did it out of spite”, “revenge” – this does not happen in the world of dogs. What happens if you punish a scared dog? You will scare her even more, drive her into a state of severe stress, spoil the relationship between you. This is a direct path to intimidation, serious behavioral disturbances in the pet and the loss of his trust and respect for you.

But you still need to react. It is enough to strictly say “no” and calmly leave the room. And then think about how to correct the behavior of the pet.

3. Get a grip

We agree that the situation is bad. But if the bite is not dangerous (and we really hope it is), try to pull yourself together and build a relationship with the dog. You don’t have to go hug her right now. Come to your senses, calm down, drink tea, and then continue to live in your usual mode.

Believe me, in such a situation, your dog is also nervous. She feels your condition and is afraid. She always needs your care, and in such a situation – especially.

You already understand that a bite is a consequence of the dog’s fear, a reaction to a strong stimulus, and you know that you cannot punish him for this. But this does not mean that such behavior should be let down. If nothing is done, it may happen again. So what to do?

First, think about the reason why the dog bit you. If the reason is clear, great. If not, and the dog seems to have bitten you “from scratch” – contact a zoopsychologist or veterinarian. Perhaps the dog is sick and in pain, or perhaps he has an injury that you did not know about. An expert will help you figure it out.

If the reason is clear, start working on the dog’s behavior. Her fear needs to be worked through, and this can take time. The main thing here is to remain a friend for the pet, to cheer him up, and not to aggravate the situation with “punishments”.

And one more important point. Learn how to properly handle dogs and teach it to those around you. Is always.

We tend to endow dogs with our own motives and judge them “on their own”, but these are completely different creatures, with their own perception of the world and feelings. It is important for dog owners to be able to read the signals of the pet’s body, feel its mood, and be aware of the possibilities. This will help you understand what to expect from your pet. What can and cannot be demanded of him.

If you have children in your family, serious work should be done with them. They need to be taught when the dog can be played with and when it should be left alone. And, of course, the child should not interfere with the dog to eat, sleep and hurt her not even on purpose. Respect for each other’s boundaries will help maintain peace and understanding in the family. 

We believe in you!