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BITING |
it *is* an issue, by Nancy Christensen...
What do *I* do when a dog bites (all dogs bite)?
There are several times I would not put a dog to sleep for biting.
Very few
that I would say the dog is not disciplined or held liable.
A dog that is protecting me or my property is not going to be
disciplined,
that dog will be praised- provided there *is* a threat. If there
is no threat, the situation will be evaluated and I will make a
decision as to the dog's perception of the situation. Perhaps it
is just a matter of *my* responsibilities as an owner, or a need
for more training and control.
A dog that is injured, in pain or coming out of anesthesia and
bites is
excused. That would be *my* fault for being careless.
A dog who challenges me during a forced obedience exercise
(usually dumbell)
will pay for his mistake, but not die for it. When I put
pressure on a dog,
such as an ear pinch retrieve (and let's not segue into a
discussion of
training methods) I expect a reaction. Once the dog knows where
to channel
his reaction (to the dumbell) it is no longer an issue. If the
dog cannot
keep clear through this training, he could very well be PTS. For
poor
temperament and weak nerves.
A dog who exhibits displacement during the work, while being
agitated, will
receive a very strong correction and then stimulation from the
helper,
learning to channel to the helper and only the helper. Again, if
the dog
cannot learn this very quickly, and remain clear, it may lead to
being put to sleep.
Displacement can be VERY dangerous. A dog can inflict a lot of
damage biting the handler or other close by people, in a rage
over wanting to go after another dog. This behavior is serious,
it is not a joke. It *is* a flaw in temperament. A working dog
needs a clear head.
A bitch with puppies, depending on the circumstance. I once
(stupidly)
allowed someone to look over the box to see a bitch's first
litter at about a
week of age. The bitch came up and "bit" her- it was very
inhibited, did not
even break skin and it was not repeated. The bitch stood there
and stared
until the person backed up a step and straightened up, then went
back to the
pups. MY mistake, and the bitch still showed great control and
bite
inhibition. She never did anything of the sort before or after.
I don't think any of these are "freebie" bite behaviors, but the
dog isn't put to sleep for it, nor considered nuts or dangerous.
Last Updated
04/20/2008.