It might come as a surprise for you when your cheerful dog decides to bite you or any of your friends. However, dogs display behaviors that are a warning sign that they will bite. By knowing the signs, it becomes easier to prevent this situation from occurring.
Signs That a Dog Displays When it Is About to Bite
A dog displays physical signs or sounds before biting, and they include:
Avoiding contact while licking lips and yawning
When your dog does not want to contact you and licks its lips or yawning, this indicates that the dog is not comfortable or is stressed out. When this goes on for a long time, then the dog might bite you as a form of an aggressive response.
Making low growls while displaying pearly whites
If a dog displays this behavior, then it is agitated. Dogs with these behaviors are either feeling unhappy or uncomfortable.
Wagging its tail
Most people tend to view tail wagging as an indication of happiness or excitement. However, this is not the case at all times. The difference is that a happy dog wags its tail together with its body faster, whereas an anxious dog wags its tail slowly.
Naturally, when a dog is comfortable, it will display part of their eyes, whereas some other parts are not seen. However, if they feel attacked, then the sclera part of their eyes becomes visible.
Raised fur
If a dog is not at peace, then the fur on its neck or back is raised. If you see this from your dog, then it is an indication that the environment is not favorable for it.
Types of Dog Aggression
There are many types of dog aggression that result in a dog bite. Arousal aggression happens when a dog is playing with other dogs, and eventually, a fight sparks up. Defensive aggression occurs when a dog cannot handle pressure. If your dog is sensitive to this, you need to avoid places with multiple dogs and instead take your dog for a walk or a picnic.
You can take these steps to avoid dog interaction. Other types of aggression are fear, territorial, possessive, protective, predatory, and redirection aggression. Through learning about these aggressions, you can know how to avoid a dog bite.
How to Prevent Dog Bites from Happening
To avoid your dog from injuring you or any other person, you can apply a few methods. These methods will help to prevent your dog from endangering the lives of other people. The methods include:
Training
Training does not have to be on complex issues only, but you can do basic training on your dog. After training your dog, it is best to repeat the actions several times so that your dog can adapt.
Increasing Interaction with Your Dog
Dogs are known as friendly pets, and that is why if you get one, you must have bonding sessions with it, such as playing. Dogs should not be isolated, and they must interact with the environment they live in and other dogs found in the area. This will help to avoid any tension when the dog comes across a new person.
Understand Your Dog
Some situations may make your dog anxious, angry, or distressed, leading to the dog biting someone. If you understand your dog, you will avoid these instances by ensuring that they are in a comfortable environment.
Avoid Hurting Your Dog
Dogs should be treated with care, and being aggressive with your dog creates a tense environment that may result in a dog bite. If your dog has issues with aggression, you should opt for training before you end up involved in a lawsuit due to a dog bite.
