Understanding Dog Behavior to End Biting

We love our dogs, but sometimes they can drive us crazy with bad behavior, stubbornness or incessant barking. By trying to obtain a better understanding of what our dogs’ behavior means, we can build a better relationship with them. One of those key behaviors that need to be reeled in is the canine tendency to bite. Keep reading to learn the underlying reasons behind why your dog is biting and how to prevent it.
Dogs bite for a few reasons – because they’re excited, scared, in pain or simply protecting a loved one or favorite toy. Each of those reasons can cause your dog to bite, and sometimes in a manner that might be dangerous either to you, your child, or a stranger.

Dogs bite when they’re playing because they naturally use their mouths to grasp things. Though this is completely innocent and understandable behavior, it’s important to teach your dog that biting the tennis ball may be okay, but biting you is not. If your dog bites you during play, stop the play immediately and walk away. Soon, your pet will learn that playful biting is not okay.

Dogs can be extremely possessive and if they’re trying to protect a favorite toy, person or a piece of food, they will sometimes bite. So, if you need to take something away from a dog, do it slowly but firmly. You must let your dog know that you are in charge, but not in a way that will frighten it.

Your dog will also sometimes bite if it is startled or afraid. Just like humans, dogs can get scared, so avoid unnecessarily startling your animal. If you have children, teach them to respect your dog and refrain from aggravating or upsetting the animal.

Finally, dogs can often become aggravated and aggressive when they’re in pain. If your dog is injured or hurt, always be as gentle and careful as possible. Soothe your dog and let it know that you’re there to help. Whether you’re pulling out porcupine needles, applying salve to a cat scratch, or extracting a splinter from his paw, assure the pet that you’re there to help.

Just like us, dogs have feelings and emotions. Unlike us though, dogs can’t express those feelings through words or clear body language signals. So, the next time your dog bites, try to think about the reasons behind that behavior and how you can work with your pet to fix it.