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Effective Boxer Dog Discipline Means No Dog Bites
Editor's Notes: I've never had to worry seriously about dog bites in a dog I owned, certainly not in my boxer, thank goodness. But if this problem arises for you, you'll need to know how to institute dog bite prevention techniques ASAP. This article gives some great tips...
Why Do Puppies Bite?
All puppies will mouth, a behavior that some people mistake for biting. The best method
to prevent puppy biting is to provide the puppy with the foundation for not biting. This
involves leaving the puppy with it’s mother and litter mates until they are at least 12
weeks old. This way the mother dog will teach the puppy it’s most important lesson –
bite inhibition.
If the puppy is taken away from its mother before 12 weeks of age or if the puppy tends
to be very mouthy, the owner can do a few things to help the puppy learn this most
important lesson. The first thing the owner must do is understand the nature of puppy
biting.
The owner must realize that the puppy does not have hands such as humans do. Therefore
all of the puppy’s manipulation and exploration of its environment is done mainly
through the mouth. (Much the same as a human baby). It is the responsible owner who
learns the difference between mouthing and true aggressive biting.
Most young puppies do not aggressively bite. If they do, the owner should give very
serious consideration about keeping such a puppy. This type of puppy may be dangerous
as an adult if not properly handled.
Next the owner must realize that the puppy does not know how to act around humans.
The puppy has not had much life experience outside of its interactions with its canine
family. Therefore punishing a puppy for using its mouth is like slapping a child who is
five for not being able to solve advance mathematical problems.
The next aspect of owning a dog that the owner must realize is that all dogs and certainly
all puppies chew. They will chew almost anything that they can get into their mouth.
Therefore the owner must puppy proof the place were the puppy will spend its time. Most
puppies do not know what is safe and what is not safe.
The puppy must be gently taught what the rules are for interacting with humans. To do
this the owner must provide correct objects for the puppy to chew. Correct objects
include anything that is not made of material that you do not want your puppy to chew.
For example, if you do not want your shoes chewed to shreds, then do not give your
puppy leather toys to chew. If you do not want your furniture chewed then do not give
your puppy toys that are made of fabric or rope. For safety reasons, it is not a good idea
to give puppies bones and other animal parts.
The best thing to give your puppy are objects made of rubber for dogs to chew and
objects made of a special nylon, made for dogs to chew. These items to not smell, feel, look or taste like anything in your home. By doing this the owner will make it easy for the puppy to distinguish what is correct to chew and what is not.
If your puppy should put any part of your person in its mouth, gently tell the puppy not to
do this and give the puppy the correct thing to put in its mouth. The same applies to
unacceptable objects that a puppy might try to chew. Do not try to yank or otherwise pull
these objects from the puppy’s mouth. You could hurt the puppy, even pull out a tooth or
two.You will also trigger the puppy’s grab reflex which is not what you want to do.
Yanking things that are in a puppy’s mouth could teach the puppy to have a pulling
contest. When the puppy takes the correct object into its mouth and releases the wrong
object, be sure to praise the puppy for doing what is correct. Remember, the puppy does
not know what is right and wrong unless it is shown.
If a puppy shows real aggressive behavior, such as snarling, raised lips, glaring eyes and
the body language that is stiff and threatening, the owner should consult a canine
behaviorist immediately. Even if this behavior is somewhat accepted for the breed. If the
owner is in doubt, an animal behaviorist should be contacted. There are a number of
organizations that have animal behaviorists world wide. One such organization is the
International Association of Animal Behaviorists.
Aggressive behavior will not go away on it own, nor will the dog get better with age. The
biggest mistake that owners make is to excuse away aggressive behavior for their dog or
puppy, and hope that the behavior is outgrown. However, the behavior only gets worse
with age.
Do not try to correct a puppy that has true aggressive problems without help from a
professional. Many people feel that enough love, or enough corrective behavior will fix
the problem. Neither will take care of any aggressive behavior in a dog of any
age.Especially when it manifests itself in a puppy that is under six months of age. The
owner of such a puppy is foolish to try to fix this problem by themselves.
The successful dog owner will learn to identify the difference between mouthing, playing
and true aggression. Mouthing is learning on the part of the puppy and all puppies will
play. As a puppy grows up some will express their affection toward humans, especially
their owner with their mouths. The good owner will recognize this and develop a healthy
relationship with the dog.
A responsible dog owner will not tolerate aggressive behavior from either a puppy, a
young adult or an adult dog. A well socialized, bred and adjusted puppy or dog will feel
no need to act aggressively. A dog that chooses to act this way demonstrates that there is
a problem with the dog’s relationship with humans. Often it is a case where the dog has
Been taught (from puppyhood) to act inappropriately in given situations. Or the dog
decides that aggressive behavior is needed when it is not.
Never lose sight of the fact that dogs do what they feel is correct in any situation. The
best way to avoid problems is to prevent them from forming.
About the Author: Susan Bulanda, M.A., from Yorktown, VA, is an ethologist: pet , SAR, & mold dog trainer, award winning author and speaker. Author of ‘READY! The Training of the SAR Dog; Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Search Missions; Scenting on the Wind: Scent Work for Hunting Dogs; Boston Terriers; The Canine Source Book'. www.sbulanda.com
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